Red Rose looking at Chanderpaul return
SHIVNARINE Chanderpaul could return for Lancashire next season.
The former West Indies Test batsman has played a crucial role in the county’s Specsavers County Championship title bid this season.
The 43-year-old has scored three centuries already in this campaign, and has added plenty of experience to a side which includes several young players.
He will be looking to reach three figures at least once more in Lancashire’s final three matches of the campaign, starting at Somerset today, as they look to close the 36-point gap on leaders Essex.
And head coach Glen Chapple admits he is in their thoughts for next season.
“We are thinking about many things at the moment,” he said.
“Shiv has been fantastic for us this season. He is still playing great cricket.
“It is something we will explore in the next few weeks.”
Jimmy Anderson, who last week claimed his 500th Test wicket and also returned to the top of the world bowling rankings, hasn’t been released by England to play for Lancashire this week.
And Jos Buttler will be missing too as he links up with the England squad ahead of their T20 international and one-day series against the West Indies.
That could mean a return to the side for captain Steven Croft, who has left himself out of the previous three games, while Rob Jones has also been named in the 13-man squad.
It does mean Alex Davies will be given the gloves again after Buttler was named wicketkeeper in the draw against Essex last week.
It was the first time this season Davies hasn’t been behind the stumps in the Championship, and Chapple admits it was a difficult decision to just play him as a batsman.
“Alex has done a fantastic job all season,” he said.
“Jos is England’s one-day keeper. He hasn’t played that much for us this season which is one of the reasons Alex has carried on doing the job in the Championship. It is a difficult part of management to give both keepers the opportunity to do what their main role is. “Jos is desperate to keep and quite rightly he was given a game. “Alex will be back with the gloves this week, while Jos will be back with England. Alex was absolutely fine with it. “He understands when you have a squad it is not about one player all the time.”