Lancashire out for Roses revenge in Championship

LANCASHIRE are confident of ending a run of nearly six years without a Roses County Championship victory as they prepare to welcome Yorkshire to Emirates Old Trafford tomorrow.

The last time the Red Rose won a four-day match against the old enemy was at Headingley in July 2011.

They actually clinched the double that year and went on to win the title outright for the first time in 77 years. Yorkshire were relegated. Since then, they have drawn two and lost two four-day clashes with the White Rose.

This year, however, things could be different.

Lancashire have made an encouraging start to their Specsavers Division One campaign, drawing two and winning one to sit second in the table and four points behind leaders Surrey.

And Yorkshire, despite being only five points back in fourth, have been unconvincing, losing one, winning one and drawing one.

They will be without their five England players, while Lancashire have Jimmy Anderson and Haseeb Hameed available.

“To be fair, we’d like to beat them with everyone in the side, but it’s one of those things,” said Red Rose captain Steven Croft.

“We’re in a great position, and I think they’ll be wary of us.

“If you look at all of our Championship matches so far, we haven’t been outplayed in any of them, so it’s been a great start.

“It’s going to be really tight this year.”