Trio welcome back at Lancs insists Allott
LANCASHIRE are open to the future return of overseas trio James Faulkner, Glenn Maxwell and BJ Watling, but director of cricket Paul Allott insists nothing is certain.
The Red Rose cancelled deals with all three players for this season after the coronavirus pandemic decimated the domestic summer schedule.
New Zealand wicketkeeperbatsman Watling was due to play the first nine County Championship games, while Australian all-rounders Faulkner and Maxwell
were both due to play in the Vitality Blast.
Allott has praised the players for how they dealt with contractual discussions and would welcome all of them back to Emirates Old Trafford.
“They may be back with us in the right circumstances,” said the former England seamer. “I would welcome them all back. All three of them were hugely amenable to not fulfilling their contracts, which we are very grateful for.”
While Lancashire announced their deal to sign Watling shortly after he scored a Test double century against England in late November, they had agreed the contract before then. Said Allott: “With BJ, there was nothing we could do because we would have been halfway through his contract now and there’s no cricket, and he’s stuck in New Zealand anyway and can’t get out.
“Given his pedigree and recent form, we’d look at him as an overseas batsman again. But there’s no agreement.
“Jimmy Faulkner, we’ve agreed with him to revisit his contract next year subject to fitness, form and terms. Glenn Maxwell, we’d have back any time, but who knows when he’s going to be available given international commitments.
“Maxi’s one of the top one-day cricketers in the world. With his all-round skill and dynamism, and leadership - he’s infectious in the dressing room, he’s a natural pick.”
While Maxwell scored 644 runs and took 29 wickets and 16 catches in 22 matches across all formats last summer, Faulkner has played three seasons of T20 Blast cricket since 2015.
He was a title winner with them in 2015, shortly after being named as man-of-the-match in Australia’s one-day World Cup final win over New Zealand, and has scored 461 runs and taken 56 wickets.
“I don’t think Jimmy would mind me saying he’s not the player he was when he won man-of-thematch in that World Cup final, but he’s still a hugely effective cricketer,” added Allott. “He has been fundamental to our T20 success for a number years now, and we would want to have him back if everything lines up.”