Chapple is missing his home comforts
LANCS PLAYING ‘HOME’ GAME AT TRENT BRIDGE
GLEN Chapple admits it’s frustrating Lancashire can’t play their home Bob Willis Cup matches at Emirates Old Trafford.
However, the Red Rose head coach is just delighted the county are just about to play cricket in what is the most unusual of seasons.
Lancashire begin their third match of the campaign today against Nottinghamshire, but even though it is a home tie, they are playing it at Trent Bridge as Emirates Old Trafford remains a bio-secure bubble ahead of more international cricket to come this summer.
They played their last home game - against Leicestershire - at a neutral venue as they lost at Worcestershire’s Blackfinch New Road.
And Chapple admits, it would be helpful if he could have a hand in the type of wicket needed to suit his side.
“It’s slightly frustrating that we can’t have control of the pitch, but we’ll just have to crack on,” said Chapple.
“I’m sure we’re entitled to ask, but we’ll see how that goes!
“It’s more about getting on the park and enjoying playing your cricket.”
A win and a defeat means Lancashire may need to win their final three matches if they have any chance of topping the North Group and securing their place in the Lord’s final next month.
“Realistically, we might have to win all three (of our remaining games) because only the two best winners of the groups get through,” said Chapple.
“But we just want to play good cricket and keep winning games.
“It’s going to be a tough thing to achieve this season, but we just want to keep winning games.”
Lancashire were hit by England call-ups to Richard Gleeson, Liam Livingstone, Saqib Mahmood, Jimmy Anderson and Jos Buttler for the opening defeat to Leicestershire, which Graham Onions and Matthew Parkinson have both been out injured.
But that has opened the door for youngster such as Liam Hurt, who took four wickets in the second innings of the win at Durham last time out.
“With the two England camps that have been going on, you have to look at it as a period of time where we can give opportunities to players for the future,” said Chapple.
“And the ones we’ve seen play have applied themselves and acquitted themselves really well. That’s the most exciting thing.”
Mahmood will miss the Notts clash with a slight injury he picked up while playing in England’s ODI series against Ireland, while Parkinson and Onions are also still missing, although the leg-spinner has this week returned to bowling.
Lancashire will come up against some familiar faces today, with Haseeb Hameed facing the Red Rose the first time since being released by the club at the end of last season, and Nottinghamshire being led by their former coach Peter Moores.