Non-furlough boost for Lancs
PAUL Allott believes Lancashire could have a head start on their rivals when the county season finally gets underway next month.
Fixtures are still being finalised, but the campaign will begin after August 1 with counties playing both red and white ball formats.
It is understood the action will begin with a four-day competition, with Lancashire due to be in a group along with Yorkshire, Durham, Derbyshire,
Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire.
They will play each other once, and the two teams out of the three regional groups with the best records will meet in a five-day final at Lord’s at the end of September.
However, reports suggest there are up to four counties who won’t take part due to the logistics and cost involved of hotel stays.
All 18, however, will play the T20 Blast throughout September.
Lancashire were one of only two clubs, along with Surrey, not to furlough their players and have been back in training for around three weeks, using Chester Broughton Hall while the West Indies were based at Emirates Old Trafford.
Other counties are just starting to return this week, and director of cricket Allott believes that gives the Red Rose an advantage.
“I’d like to think we will be as advanced as any other team, probably more advanced,” he said.
“Our guys have been practising for the best part of three weeks, some other counties have only just started this week so it stands to reason that we will be as well prepared as we would be for a normal season. That will be an advantage.
“Some counties feel this will be a bit of a rush now, they have only got four weeks to get prepared, get their bowling loads up and their bowlers up to speed. I think ours should be. Maybe we will have a little bit of a start on them.”
While the initial restart will be played behind closed doors, Allott is hopeful that some spectators may be allowed into grounds for the final part of the season.
“I understand that the Premier League are trying to get crowds in September,” he said.
“If that is the case then maybe mid-September onwards. And that ties into the time when we would be able to get Emirates Old Trafford back as a venue after all the international cricket.
“That would be fantastic if we could get some spectators into the ground.”
Lancashire’s Liam Livingstone, Saqib Mahmood, Richard Gleeson and Matthew Parkinson have been named in the England ODI squad for the series against Ireland from July 30 to August 4.