Kiwi Wagner signs for Lancashire as overseas player

Lancashire have completed the signing of New Zealand left-arm pace bowler Neil Wagner as an overseas player for the 2016 season.

Wagner, as well as James Anderson, will be available for the start of the new season, and he is expected to feature primarily in four-day cricket. The Kiwi paceman has played 18 Tests for his country taking 67 wickets at an average of 33.34.

The Red Rose County are back in Division One of the Championship and Wagner will bring a wealth of experience to Old Trafford, having taken 431 first-class wickets at an average of 27.20.

Wagner said: "I am extrememly excited to play for such a great club. I have always admired Lancashire, ever since playing in the Liverpool Lancashire league for Ormskirk in 2008.

"I'm very much looking forward to joining up with the squad and working with Ashley and the rest of the team. I hope my contributions will help Lancs to win some silverware to sit in the cabinet at Emirates Old Trafford."

Captain Steven Croft was quick to welcome Wagner to Lancashire.

The South-African born bowler started his career at Northerns, before moving to New Zealand, where he now represents Otago, playing alongside the likes of Brendon McCullum and Jesse Ryder.

Director of Cricket and Head Coach, Ashley Giles, said: "We are delighted to have brought in Neil Wagner to strengthen our bowling attack.

"Neil is a world class bowler with a tremendous pedigree and having him available for such an extended period will give our County Championship Division One campaign a real boost.

New Zealand's Test series against South Africa means that Wagner is likely to be available until the end of July, with a replacement overseas player likely to be announced thereafter.

Croft takes over captaincy as Smith steps down

Lancashire all-rounder Tom Smith has made the difficult decision to step down as club captain ahead of the 2016 season in order to focus on regaining his match fitness.

Steven Croft, who captained the side for most of last season, has taken over the role of club captain, as Lancashire aim to defend their Natwest T20 Blast title and compete back in Division One of the County Championship.

Smith captained the side just once in 2015 - the opening fixture against Derbyshire - before he was sidelined by a slipped disc in his back. He failed to return to fitness by the end of the season and looked on with pride as Croft did a superb job in his absence, helping Lancashire to earn promotion in four-day cricket and their first T20 title at Edgbaston.

Smith said: "This was a very tough decision for me to make but I feel it is the right one. It was a great honour to be appointed captain last year, but I feel that my main focus for now must be to get myself fit for next season.

"Crofty has proved that he is a good leader and I wish him all the best in the role. I'm determined to get myself back out onto the field, as a senior player and I will be there for Crofty offering my support at all times."

Lancashire's director of cricket and head coach, Ashley Giles, said: "This has been an incredibly tough decision for Tom to make but it is important that his focus in on getting fit for the new season. Tom's experience will be crucial to Steven and he will very much remain a key member of our leadership team.

"I'd also like to congratulate Steven on his appointment. He showed great maturity in what was a successful season for Lancashire."

Croft's personal performances were truly remarkable last season. The Blackpool-born all-rounder hit 478 runs in the T20 Blast including a career-best 94 on home soil against Derbyshire. He also hit two centuries in four-day cricket, finishing the season with 874 runs at an average of 41.62.

The new Lancashire captain said: "I'd like to pay tribute to Tom, who is a great friend and an extremely professional team-mate. 

"He worked very closely with me last year and I'm looking forward to him getting back to full fitness. It must have been a very difficult decision for him, but I am delighted to have been asked to become captain. It's a real privilege and I'm honoured to take it on," Croft added.

Anderson signs two-year extension with Lancashire

Lancashire and England seamer James Anderson has signed a two-year contract extension with the Red Rose County.

England's all-time leading wicket-taker featured in two Championship matches last season, claiming his best ever figures for Lancashire against Essex in the final game of the season when he took 7-77 at Chelmsford.

The Burnley-born pace bowler, who is centrally contracted to England, surpassed Sir Ian Botham's record for England when he took his 384th Test wicket against West Indies earlier this year.

Since then, Anderson has entered the top ten leading wicket-takers list in Test history, putting him in the company of fellow Red Rose seamer, Wasim Akram. Since making his Lancashire debut in 2002, Anderson has gone on to feature in 109 Tests, claiming 420 wickets at an average of 29.20.

The 33-year-old claimed his 700th first-class wicket against Surrey when he played for Lancashire at Emirates Old Trafford this season, taking 11 wickets in two LV= County Championship appearances.

Anderson said: "I consider it an honour and a privilege every time I wear the Red Rose and I am delighted to sign a new deal with the county I grew up supporting. Last season was a great year for Lancashire and I'm looking forward to seeing us progress under Ashley back in Division One."

Director of Cricket and Head Coach, Ashley Giles, said: "Not only is Jimmy a world-class player but he is a fantastic ambassador for Lancashire County Cricket Club.

"His record speaks for itself on the international stage and he always performs to his highest level when he wears the Red Rose," he added.

Davies and Parkinson extend stay at Lancashire

Wicketkeeper Alex Davies and leg-spinner Matt Parkinson have extended their contracts at Lancashire.

Davies excelled in all three formats least season for the Red Rose County, scoring 730 runs in four-day cricket before picking up a knee injury. Before his injury, Davies was one of only three Lancashire players to feature in every single game of the season.

The 21-year-old, who was nominated for the LV= Breakthrough Player of the Year Award, also hit a career-best 73 in the One-Day Cup and scored 235 runs in Twenty20 cricket, including a vital innings of 47 in the final against Northamptonshire to help Lancashire secure their first T20 trophy.

His record in the County Championship was particularly encouraging, as Davies hit seven half-centuries, averaging 40.56. He came agonisingly close to registering a maiden-first class century against Kent in the early stages of the season, but fell one run short of this milestone.

England Under-19 spinner Parkinson is yet to make his senior debut, but he continues to impress in the international set-up alongside fellow Lancastrians, Haseeb Hameed and Saqib Mahmood.

Director of Cricket and Head Coach, Ashley Giles, said: “Alex is an exciting talent and is very much a key member of our squad. You almost seem to forget that he’s only 21.

“With Jos [Buttler] being away with England, Alex has stepped up and made excellent contributions not only with the gloves, but also with the bat.

“Matty is another talented youngster we have at Lancashire and he will play an important part for Lancashire in the future,” Giles added.

Croft signs new deal with Lancashire

Lancashire vice-captain Steven Croft is the latest Lancashire player to agree a new contract with the Club this week.

Croft captained Lancashire for the majority of the 2014 season after Tom Smith suffered a reoccurring problem with his back. The Club captain only played one LV= County Championship game against Derbyshire, the first game of the season, which meant Croft had to take over as skipper for virtually the entire campaign.

He did a terrific job, guiding Lancashire to their first Twenty20 trophy at Edgbaston, as well as helping the Red Rose County to secure promotion back to the first division of the four-day format. Croft was Lancashire's leading run-scorer in the T20 Blast, scoring 478 runs at an average of 43.45.

A tremendous T20 campaign included a career-best knock of 94 not out against Derbyshire and a memorable performance against holders, Birmingham Bears, on the ground which Lancashire would eventually lift the T20 trophy. In that fixture, Croft hit 64 not out, took two wickets - including the prized scalp of Brendon McCullum - and he also took a stunning catch at backward point to remove Laurie Evans.

His efforts were by no means contained to white-ball cricket. Croft also scored 874 runs in the County Championship, hitting six fifties and two centuries in the process. His tally for the four-day campaign was second only to Ashwell Prince (1,478) and Croft - along with Prince - was one of only two Lancashire players to feature in every single game in 2015.

Director of Cricket and Head Coach Ashley Giles, said: "Crofty has done a terrific job in leading the team on the field in the absence of Tom this year. He's led by example and his performances have been outstanding, especially in the Natwest T20 Blast."

"I'm very proud and delighted to have signed a new contract with the Club I love," Croft said.

"I want to help us win more trophies. We want to be the first club to defend the Natwest T20 Blast and challenge back in the top division of the LV= County Championship.

"It's a really exciting time to be part of this Club and it's great to see the talent in the changing room, particularly with some of the younger guys signing new contracts as well."

Croft is the fifth player to have committed their future to Lancashire this week, with Stephen Parry signing a new long term deal only yesterday. Seam trio Kyle Jarvis, Tom Bailey and Gavin Griffiths also renewed their contracts at Lancashire earlier this week.

Parry agrees long-term deal with Lancashire

Stephen Parry is the latest member of the Lancashire playing staff to extend their stay at Emirates Old Trafford after agreeing a long-term deal with the Red Rose County.

The left-arm spinner took 25 wickets in the Natwest T20 Blast this season, the equal highest tally in the competition alongside Lancashire teammate, James Faulkner.

Parry's consistency has earned him a recall to the international set-up, as the 29-year-old hopes to add to his five limited-overs appearances for England against Pakistan. The Manchester-born spinner is currently in the UAE ahead of England's T20 three-game T20 series with Pakistan, with New Zealand veteran Daniel Vettori on hand to provide guidance to England's up and coming spin prospects.

Kyle Jarvis, Tom Bailey and Gavin Griffiths have all extended their stay at Lancashire this week, with Jarvis and Bailey agreeing to three-year contracts.

It has been another frustrating summer for Parry in the four-day arena, as he was unable to add to his nine first-class appearances. However, in one-day cricket, Parry had a superb season, claiming a combined total of 36 wickets in the T20 Blast and the Royal London One-Day Cup.

His lack of opportunities in four-day cricket lead to the suggestion that he would, perhaps, agree to a loan deal, in order to give him the chance to improve his pedigree in red-ball cricket. Soon after these rumours emerged, Parry received his county cap before the Twenty20 fixture against Yorkshire Vikings at Old Trafford, reassuring Parry that he is a valued member of the Lancashire dressing room.

Director of Cricket and Head Coach, Ashley Giles, said: "Stephen is a fantastic, international quality bowler and is also a great person to have in the dressing room.

"He's a person who embodies what it means to be a Lancashire player and his experience is of great benefit to the younger guys in the dressing room," he added.

His 25 wickets in the T20 Blast took his overall tally to 98 scalps in the shortest format, with these wickets coming at a tidy average of 15.68.

Parry will have to wait for his chance to deliver on the international scene, with England's first T20 fixture against Pakistan scheduled to take place on November 26.

Lancashire seam trio sign new contracts

Kyle Jarvis, Tom Bailey and Gavin Griffiths have all signed new contracts with Lancashire County Cricket Club.

Zimbabwean seamer Jarvis was recognised as the club's Championship Player of the Season after taking 62 wickets in red-ball cricket at a tidy average of 24.47. Jarvis' imperious form was cut short by a broken hand, suffered in preparation for Twenty20 Finals Day.

Bailey's first full season at Lancashire saw a promising return of 35 wickets in the second division of the LV= County Championship, including career-best figures of 5-12 against Leicestershire.

21-year-old Griffiths featured sparingly in limited-overs cricket, but whenever he had the chance to prove what he could do, he certainly delivered. Griffiths bowled only the sixth maiden to ever be bowled at Finals Day - his very first over for Lancashire in T20 cricket - and he went on to feature in the final against Northamptonshire, as the Lightning finally lifted their T20 curse.

Director of Cricket and Head Coach, Ashely Giles, said: "It is imperative that we have a group of strong and talented seam bowlers and all three have had an impressive season.

"Kyle was the pick of our bowlers in red ball cricket and it was a real shame that his injury stopped him from playing in the final games, while Tom made some excellent contributions in all forms of the game. Gav had a T20 debut to remember at Finals Day and to bowl a maiden in his first over was quite remarkable. All three are important to the future of Lancashire," he added.

Bailey took 35 Championship wickets in 12 appearances.

Lancashire were very fortunate to have the services of Australian duo Peter Siddle and James Faulkner this season. However, after returning to Division One, Lancashire have turned their attention to the future and established a strong network of talented youngsters.

Bailey has progressed to first-team cricket after featuring for Lancashire in the 2014 season as a scholarship player, while England Under-19 joint-captain, Haseeb Hameed, took his opportunity at the top of the order against Surrey in the final home game of the season by scoring 91 in only his third first-class game for the Red Rose County.

Griffiths, meanwhile, has not had the opportunity to prove himself in four-day cricket as yet, but his usefulness in limited-overs cricket will certainly provide Lancashire with the depth they have lacked in the bowling department in previous seasons.

Griffiths also took four wickets in the Royal London One-Day Cup.

As well as a scintillating T20 debut at Edgbaston, Griffiths made four appearances in the 50-over contest, with his best performance coming against Nottinghamshire Outlaws, who he claimed 3-41 against at Liverpool.

The performances of Jarvis towards the start of the season were particularly memorable; his new-ball pairing with Siddle made Lancashire a dangerous opponent and when Faulkner replaced the Aussie paceman, this trend continued to Lancashire's gain.

Jarvis was, alongside opening batsman Karl Brown, also awarded his county cap at the end of season awards last weekend.

In addition to the aforementioned contract extensions, academy prospects Rob Jones and Danny Lamb have been recruited on scholarship deals with the club.