County cricket preview 2019: Lancashire
We take a look at Lancashire’s prospects for the 2019 county cricket season, after 2018 resulted in relegation to Division Two of the County Championship.
Lancashire County Cricket Club
Captain: Dane Vilas
Last season: CC1: 7/8; RL50: 6/9 North Group; T20: SF
Transfers in: Richard Gleeson (Northants), Joe Burns, Glenn Maxwell (both Aus)
Transfers out: Jordan Clark (Surrey), Arron Lilley (Leics), Mark Watt (Derbyshire) Karl Brown, Simon Kerrigan (both released)
Stick on: Keaton Jennings
Jennings topped Lancashire’s batting averages in Division One last season
An Ashes call-up appears unlikely given his wretched home record in Tests, which is excellent news for Lancs’ promotion bid. Jennings scored three centuries and averaged 47 in 10 Championship matches last season, while no other batsman at the club averaged 40.
Wildcard: Glenn Maxwell
Maxwell is one of two Australian signings for Lancashire; Joe Burns will also feature for the Red Rose in 2019
Curiously overlooked for Australia’s Test team in recent times, the mercurial all-rounder will be hoping to put on a big show for the selectors during his stint, which could include five Championship matches.
Prediction
CC2: Winners; RL50: 4/9 North Group; T20: Runners-up
After finishing Championship runners-up in 2017, Lancs were brought back to earth with a bump last season after being relegated by the narrowest of margins. The blame lay squarely with the batsmen who, with the exception of Dane Vilas and Jennings, contributed very little. On paper they look too strong for the second tier, particularly in the seam department, but the same was said of Middlesex last season.
This county cricket 2019 preview was first published in issue 18 of Wisden Cricket Monthly. Subscribe here.
