Anderson Available For Championship Fixtures.

The ECB have announced the availability of James Anderson, for two of Lancashire's important County Championship fixtures. He will be available for the Championship games against Kent (24-27 April) at Emirates Old Trafford and Glamorgan (1-4 May) at Colwyn Bay.

He is not allowed to feature in Yorkshire Bank 40 games against Durham Dynamos (6 May) and Derbyshire Falcons (12 May) and his availability will go under further review after the game against Glamorgan.

After Kabir Ali's knee injury was announced, this news will be welcomed by everyone at Lancashire, especially if the initial judgement of one month's absence increases for Ali.

Lancashire Lose T20 Opener To Sussex In Dubai.

Stephen Moore and Andrea Agathangelou opened for the Lightning, who were hoping to make a noteworthy start to their season. In a sense, this is exactly what they did, but only because Moore played-on to his own stumps off Hatchett, resulting in a golden duck. Stand-in captain, Steven Croft faces a great deal of responsibility this season and when he smashed Jordan for six it seemed that he was going to live up to this expectation. But shortly afterwards he was caught by Hamilton-Brown at point, rewarding Jordan for his efforts with the ball.

Already 12-2 in the fourth over, Lancashire had it all to do, but Agathangelou and the new batsmen, Jordan Clark were able to steady the innings. They were able to add 44 runs for the third wicket, but Clark (13) was eventually caught at point attempting to reverse sweep Rippon. Things went from bad to worse when Reece was caught in the deep, attempting to pull James Anyon. Agathangelou was now under a lot of pressure, due to Lancashire’s poor start, but he was able to make 42 off 34 balls. After hitting four 4’s and a six, it may be fair to say that his dismissal was brought about by the aggressive attitude of the t20 format, as he was stumped in the middle of Lancashire's innings. 

Former youth player, Alex Davies, and winter signing, Wayne White, now stood at the crease, with the score at 68-5 and 8 overs remaining. Both batsmen proved to be capable additions to Lancashire’s roster, with the man from Leicestershire making the biggest impact. After Davies was eventually out, Oliver Newby joined White, but he shortly followed, as the Lightning edged their way to a semi competitive total. White finished on 29 from 19 balls, impressing the Lancashire faithful, hitting 2 sixes in the process. The innings closed on 118-9, which, considering the strength of the oppositions batting, was felt to be exceedingly under par.

Chris Nash and Michael Yardy were set to establish the chase of 119 runs for victory and they did so, as Sussex got off to a faster start than Lancashire, scoring 30-0 after 4 overs. The breakthrough finally came for the Lightning when the star batsmen, Agathangelou, caught Yardy to give Clark his first wicket. Sussex slowed down after this wicket, as Nash and the new batsmen; Hamilton-Brown appeared to be struggling for runs. The pressure appeared to be mounting and when Simon Kerrigan ran out the latter, Sussex stumbled to 48-2 in the 8th over. But with the help of Joe Gatting (20*), Chris Nash was able to see Sussex home, scoring 76 from 59 balls, as Lancashire lost by 8 wickets in the 18th over.

There were few positives in this match for the Lighting, with the efforts of Agathangelou and White standing out amongst an unsuccessful all-round display. With a busy schedule in Dubai, Lancashire will have plenty of chances to establish themselves, but it is fair to say that the 2013 season has not started well. They face a Fly Emirates XI tomorrow, which will see them challenge their new sponsorship partners and hopefully come up with a better performance than they did today. 

Knee Injury Frustrates Kabir Ali.

Knee Injury Frustrates Kabir Ali.

Lancashire will begin their pre-season tour of Dubai on Thursday, with a Twenty20 match versus Sussex. However, they have suffered an early set-back, after it was revealed that fast bowler, Kabir Ali, would not travel with the team, due to a knee injury he sustained whilst playing in the Bangladesh T20 Premier League.

The injury was sustained when the former England international jarred his knee bowling and as a result he will miss the start of the season. Coincidentally, he will miss the opening fixture of the County Championship, which would have seen him face his first county, Worcestershire.

Lancashire’s director of cricket, Mike Watkinson, has said that since the injury Ali has been “training indoors” but his knee “began to swell up”. He was quick to assert his, and the clubs concern, adding his hope that the injury “is nothing too serious”. This view will be shared by everyone at Lancashire, who will not only be frustrated by the rapidity of their first injury of the season, but also because the player sustaining the injury is one of their many winter signings.

Ahead of their first tour-match against Sussex, Lancashire are set to have a net session tomorrow and utilise many of the “brilliant facilities” that have been praised by the Lancashire coach, Peter Moores.

The coach stated that he is eager to “win all the practice games”, but believes that it is important to “give opportunities to as many people in our squad as we can do.” He finished by saying that “Whatever side we put out on the field is talented enough to win every game”, which will fill the team with confidence ahead of Thursday’s match. 

Lancashire Flying High With New Sponsor.

Today, Lancashire have announced a new ten-year-deal with Emirates Airlines, making them the second English county to be linked with one of the world's fastest growing airlines. The red rose county will now play their home games at the ‘Emirates Old Trafford’, ensuring that the heart of the ground, the name, will stay intact despite many of the changes taking place at the club.The deal will also entail a range of commercial opportunities for both stakeholders and most significantly, the ‘Fly Emirates’ sponsor will appear on the Lightning’s Twenty20 kit.

Maurice Flanagan, Executive Vice Chairman of Emirates Airlines, said “This is an excellent opportunity to build upon Emirates’ commitment to cricket, a sport we have been associated with in the UK since 2002. We’re hugely looking forward to supporting Lancashire cricket and its fans both here and abroad, in what is a further significant investment by Emirates to the region. Cricket at Lancashire County Cricket Club is of the highest quality, it has a global reach and has produced legends in the sport and we are proud to be lending our name to such incredible success.”

Michael Cairns OBE, Chairman of Lancashire County Cricket Club, said, “This announcement represents another major step in the redevelopment of Old Trafford. We could not have found a better and more suitable partner than Emirates. We are extremely proud to be associated with them and look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship.”

For many Lancashire fans, this announcement will cause some discomfort, given the many changes that have already taken place at the club over the last decade. To lose a part of the grounds name will be something that takes time to become accustomed with, but this deal also brings a great deal of positivity. It will help to pay for the development, currently taking place in Manchester, but also provide the opportunity for future signings with more disposable income available. 

A Guide to the 2013 English Domestic Cricket Season – County Championship.

A Guide to the 2013 English Domestic Cricket Season – County Championship.

Derbyshire:

Many people will feel that Derbyshire will be out of their depth in the first division, but after their overwhelming success last season, they could be the surprise package. The overseas signing of Shiv Chanderpaul will undoubtedly boost a questionable batting line-up, which will be vital, as the pressure to score runs is often the cause for relegation to the second division. Even if they can score runs, the ability to take the twenty wickets required to win matches will be an immense challenge for Derbyshire. Given the mediocre quality of seam and spin available to them, it is likely that they will struggle to do so against the formidable opposition in the first division. 

Key Player: Shiv Chanderpaul.

Prediction: 9^th in Division 1.

Durham:

Despite finishing mid-table last season, Durham were one of the divisions most formidable bowling outfits. This will serve them well this season and will be essential in the opening fixtures, with their impressive seam attack favoring the conditions. As a batting unit, inconsistency is the issue facing Durham. There are enough players at the club capable of scoring 1,000 runs in the Championship season, for example Dale Benkenstein, Paul Collingwood and Ben Stokes. But last season, nobody took this responsibility, which sadly minimized the efforts of the bowlers. Durham’s success is dependent on the number of runs they score, as they are one of the most reliable bowling teams in the division.

Key Player: Graham Onions.

Prediction: 7^th in Division 1.

Essex:

On paper, Essex has one of the strongest teams on the county circuit. Many of their players have represented the national squad and the younger players coming through have all shown great potential. However, Essex have lacked depth in their squad on an all-round basis, which was proven last season by the strain of injuries and these international duties. The absence of Ravi Bopara, Owais Shah and of course Alistair Cook, means that Essex are left with a very average team. There is still immense quality at the club, especially behind the stumps, in James Foster, who will play a pivotal role as both captain and a run-scorer. Filling the large gaps left by emerging talent, is one of the hardest challenges for any county side and Essex will struggle if they are not able to sign any high-quality players, who will be available to them permanently.

Key Player: James Foster.

Prediction: 6^th in Division 2.

Glamorgan:

For the only Welsh side in the county system, the second division has always seemed a great challenge. They are often tipped to finish bottom of the division and anything more than this is considered a surprise. Last season however, they did manage 6^th place, as they were able to capitalize on results that might have gone either way.  They have also made a vast effort to improve their squad and the signing of Jim Allenby is evidence that this pays off. This winter Glamorgan were fortunate to sign the experienced Murray Goodwin, which is sure to pay dividend. But hey are still struggling in the bowling department and if they are unable to take wickets, they will end up proving the critics right.

Key Player: Mark Wallace.

Prediction:  7^th in Division 2.

Gloucestershire:

Last season saw Gloucestershire finish bottom of the second division and this was due to a number of reasons. Their dependency on New Zealand superstars, Rob Nicol and Kane Williamson, meant that whenever these two failed to score runs, the team suffered heavily. They still lack an established bowling attack, with Will Gidman taking the most wickets last year (44). Essentially, Gloucester has a very weak team in every aspect and they are depending heavily on a chosen few to save them from replicating the poor display of last season. The introduction of Australian batsmen Michael Klinger as the captain gives their batting some depth, but hardly compensates for the overall lack of quality players. It is hard to see Gloucestershire avoid finishing in last place, given the lack of winter signings and overall quality.

Key Player: Will Gidman.

Prediction: 9^th in Division 2.

Hampshire:

Many people were shocked not to see Hampshire make an instant return to the first division last season, as they stumbled to a fourth place finish. Given the presence of quality in all areas of the game, Hampshire ought to be competing for promotion this season, although it wont be easy. The impact of Jimmy Adams at the top of the order is likely to play a large part in their chances of success, as will the talent of Danny Briggs, whose success as a spinner has gained international recognition.  Hampshire do seem to be lacking a quality pace bowler and top order batsmen, but they will certainly be a tough outfit to breakdown this season.

Key Player: Jimmy Adams.

Prediction: 2^nd in Division 2.

Kent:

Financial restraints have meant that Kent are unable to bring in any major signings as of yet and as such, they will be heavily dependent on the veterans who are already at the club. Rob Key has stepped down as captain, but will still be important at the top of the order. His successor, James Tredwell, is likely to share a great deal of the responsibility for success, especially in taking wickets, as he has recently been recognized by England’s one-day side for his spinning capabilities. However, the great deal of Kent’s side, comprises of up and coming talent, that is yet to fully establish itself on the English domestic scene. If players, such as Sam Northeast and Matt Coles, are able to make their mark this year, Kent may have a chance at promotion, but this very young side still needs some time to grow.

Key Player: Darren Stevens.

Prediction: 4^th in Division 2.

Lancashire:

After winning the Championship title in 2011, Lancashire looked like one of the strongest outfits in the first division. But they were deservedly relegated last season after managing to win just one of sixteen matches. Wayne White promises to be a fantastic signing in all three formats, but he promises to add depth to Lancashire’s fast bowling for the Championship campaign. Simon Katich is also certain to strengthen the batting department, which was certainly Lancashire’s problem last season.  Batting power must come more from openers, Paul Horton and Stephen Moore, and less so from the middle order. The bowling department has suffered slightly with Gary Keedy’s departure, but Simon Kerrigan has proven his potential as Lancashire’s primary spinner. They are no strangers to the fluctuation between the two divisions and certainly have the quality required for promotion, either automatically or as champions.

Key Player: Glen Chapple.

Prediction: 1^st in Division 2.

Leicestershire:

The continuing problem for Leicestershire is that they seem to lose any of the outstandingly talented players they are able to produce and this has severely limited their chances of returning to the first division. In recent seasons they have lost Stuart Broad, James Taylor and Luke Wright to bigger counties and this winter they have repeated this by losing Wayne White to Lancashire. However, Josh Cobb is emerging as one of the greatest batsmen in the country and the presence of West-Indian international batsmen, Ramnaresh Sarwan, as the captain for the upcoming season will bode will for them. They do however have an incredibly small squad that is susceptible to injuries and sustaining fitness levels over the course of a long and ever demanding season.

Key Player: Ramnaresh Sarwan.

Prediction: 5^th in Division 2.

Middlesex:

Since gaining promotion to the first division in 2011, Middlesex have flourished at the highest level, achieving third place last season. Unlike other championship sides, they are consistent performers with the bat and are able to back themselves equally in their effort as a bowling side. The signing of James Harris from Glamorgan promises to strengthen the bowling line-up, but if Middlesex are unsuccessful this season, it will probably be because they fail to take wickets. It is highly doubtful that any side with Joe Denly, Neil Dexter and Chris Rogers, will fail to score runs and a strong middle order reinforces this fact.

Key Player: Chris Rogers.

Prediction: 4^th in Division 1.

Northamptonshire:

Northants have struggled in the longest format of the game for a long-time now, finishing second-bottom last season. They lack any form of outstanding talent in any area, and at best, they should realistically expect another mediocre season. The introduction of Stephen Crook and Matt Spriegel promise to give Northants a greater chance this season, but these signings seem fitting of a team that is settling for less. The loss of Niall O’Brien will leave a massive gap both behind the stumps and in the middle order. Australian signing Trent Copeland will have to lead the fast bowling duties and James Middlebrook’s spinning contribution will be as important as ever.

Key Player:  Andrew Hall.

Prediction: 8^th in Division 2.

Nottinghamshire:

Given the unbelievable level of talent at Nottinghamshire, it is hard to understand why they finished fifth last season. They have outstanding quality in all aspects and should be setting the standard this season, alongside Warwickshire. They have, undoubtedly, the best batsmen in the country, with Alex Hales, Michael Lumb and Samit Patel all representing England in the winter months. Their bowling attack is similarly strong and the presence of the deadly Andre Adams is always a crucial part of their success. They have also added to  their bowling outfit by signing Ajmal Shahzad, who has also represented England internationally. It does however seem that their inability to compete last season, came from the poor weather and being on the wrong end of the few result matches available, with captain and wicket keeper Chris Read being notorious for trying to obtain results from matches. If the weather is not the mercy of every county this season, as it certainly was for 2012, then Nottinghamshire should challenge for the title.

Key Player: Andre Adams.

Prediction: 2^nd in Division 1.

Somerset:

Famous for coming bitterly close but never winning, Somerset would like to change their label of ‘bridesmaids’ and perhaps shock a few people this season. A great deal of their strength comes from their batsmen, most notably Marcus Trescothick and Nick Compton. The former plays a key role with the bat, but even more so as the skipper. As an all-round unit, Somerset are very strong and figures like Peter Trego are proving that Somerset can compete in more than just one day cricket. Bowling wise, a great deal of faith is put into Alfonso Thomas, whose form is consistent and high in all three formats of the game. If Somerset fail to win the championship, it will probably be due to the fact that they lack a quality spinner and depth in their seam bowling line-up, but they could be serious contenders this year.

Key Player: Nick Compton.

Prediction: 3^rd in Division 1.

Surrey:

There is no denying the immense talent at Surrey at the present time, but for to long now they have been centralized around their performance with the bat and this has led to many matches ending in high scoring draws. The Oval is arguably the best wicket to bat on in the country and as such encourages success for Surrey in this field. However, it also allows other sides to compete and so half of their matches are likely to end in draws. As a competitive unit they are still very strong and winter signings have extended this threat. Graeme Smith and Ricky Ponting have been added to the 2013 roster and this explosive batting power will certainly give them an edge. They have also added to their bowlers by signing Gary Keedy from Lancashire, which will help strengthen this apparent weakness in their game.

Key Player: Graeme Smith.

Prediction: 5^th in Division 1.

Sussex:

There was a time when Sussex dominated the first division of the county game, winning the championship in 2003, 2006 and 2007. But since then they have continued to finish in the middle of the table, which seems to be far below their potential. The re-signing of Rory Hamilton-Brown will help strengthen their batting, but Sussex can already boast some of the best batsmen in the country. Key figures in this area will include Chris Nash, Ed Joyce and of course Matt Prior, should he feature on a regular basis. As a bowling side they are comparably weaker, but still have great potential. Monty Panesar has developed his game greatly over the last two seasons as a spinner, but they do seem to be lacking a quality pace bowler.

Key Player: Chris Nash.

Prediction: 6^th in Division 1.

Warwickshire:

Last season saw Warwickshire win the County Championship and nobody can argue that they deserved to win. Varun Chopra was a vital part of their success scoring 1,028 runs last year, but the reason why they were so successful with the bat was due to the fact that several players chipped in on a consistent basis, allowing Warwickshire to pose threatening scores and collect a healthy number of bonus points. Likewise, three of their bowlers took 50 wickets or more, which reflected the collective contribution with the bat. The end product was a consistently strong opposition that was able to put the poor weather behind them and seize the title. They started the season well and when the rain hit this gave them a great advantage over other teams. If they play in the same way, then it is hard to argue against them retaining the title.

Key Player: Varun Chopra.

Prediction: 1^st in Division 1.

Worcestershire:

Having finished bottom of division one last season, Worcestershire will want to make this season count. They are certainly one of the strongest outfits in the second division and will be competing for promotion. The overseas signing of Thilan Samaraweera is very promising, bringing a great deal of experience to a young side. On the flip side, the older players in the current squad are set to give them their best chance for promotion and such players include Daryl Mitchell and Alan Richardson. The consistence of Gareth Andrew with bat and ball will also be vital. As a bowling unit they have also got a lot of potential and Richardson is likely to compete for the top wicket taker in the division.

Key Player: Alan Richardson.

Prediction: 3^rd in Division 2.

 Yorkshire:

Having narrowly missed out on being crowned champions of division two, Yorkshire will be keen to compete this season and certainly finish above Derbyshire, who beat Yorkshire having won more games over the course of the season. Captain Andrew Gale is certain to be crucial in the scoring of runs and supporting the rest of the squad as captain. Yorkshire have emerging talent that has come into light over the last year and Joe Root and Jonathan Bairstow will be likely to support the skipper as they bid to survive the cut. Ryan Sidebottom and Tim Bresnan will give them hope of taking wickets, which must be achieved to stay in the first division. Adil Rashid’s spin bowling will also be of great significance over the course of the season.

Key Player: Andrew Gale.

Prediction: 8^th in Division 1.