Giles unveiled as new Lancashire coach

Gary Yates (middle) and Glen Chapple (right) have both shared coaching responsibilities at
Old Trafford since Peter Moores (left) rejoined the England set-up. 

Former England One-Day coach, Ashley Giles, has today been named as a the permanent successor to Peter Moores as coach at Lancashire County Cricket Club. 

This swiftly followed the news that the former Director of Cricket, Mike Watkinson, was to step down from his role at the club, with Giles also set to take Watkinson’s former duties. Moores and Giles were both in contention for the role of England head coach and Giles has been out of coaching since the former reacquired his position with the international set up in April. 

Since the departure of Moores, Lancashire captain Glen Chapple has played the dual role of player-manager, but Giles has been retired from professional cricket for more than seven years, whilst Chapple continues to play into the latter stages of his career. 

Giles joins the Red Rose, who were relegated from Division One of the County Championship in 2014, with a wealth of coaching experience. The former Ashes winner has coached Warwickshire, winning four domestic titles in his time at the club, including the County Championship title in 2012. 

The former England and Warwickshire spinner was also part of a four-man team, including Peter Moores, in 2008 chaired with the responsibility of national selection. He then went on to attain the role of one-day coach, following the departure of Andy Flower after the 5-0 loss to Australia. 

Giles replaces another cornerstone of the Lancashire personnel in Watkinson as Director of Cricket. In all, Watkinson has been a part of Lancashire County Cricket Club for 32 years, as a player, coach and in his most recent role as Director of Cricket. Watkinson has come under scrutiny of late and has been criticised for his role in Lancashire’s second relegation in three seasons from Division One. 

However, Watkinson, and Moores for that matter, were both figureheads in Lancashire’s first outright County Championship victory in 77 years when the Red Rose lifted the trophy in 2011. This reshuffle at Old Trafford suggests a signal of intent from Lancashire, who are aiming to recover from successive relegations from the top-flight of the four-day format. 

Watkinson has said that he is seeking new challenges in career and Lancashire Chairman, Michael Cairns said: “I would like to place on record our sincere gratitude to Mike Watkinson for his long-term service of Lancashire CCC as player, captain, cricket manager and cricket director.”