Lancashire release trio as Giles rebuilds

CHRIS OSTICK LANCASHIRE have released Luis Reece, Gavin Griffiths and George Edwards as Ashley Giles looks to rebuild his squad for next season.

The trio have all been on the fringes of the squad this season.

Seamer Edwards has played in 11 NatWest T20 games this season for Lancashire, taking 16 wickets, and was a member of the team that won the final at Edgbaston last year.

However, the 24-yearold has been troubled with injuries since joining the Red Rose as head coach Ashley Giles’ first signing.

Like Edwards, fast bowler Griffiths was in the team that won the NatWest T20 final last year and took three wickets against Northamptonshire, having made a stunning debut in the semi-final where he bowled only the sixth-ever maiden at a Finals Day.

The 22-year-old from Ormskirk, who came through the ranks at Emirates Old Trafford playing in the club’s under-13 side, started this season’s T20 campaign in the line-up for the first game against Derbyshire. However, he split the webbing between his finger and thumb while fielding.

The former England Under-19 bowler never played first-class cricket for the county.

Reece made an instant impression when he broke into the Lancashire Championship side in 2013, scoring 722 runs at an average of 55 in his 10 matches.

However, the 25-yearold struggled in Division One the following season, averaging just 16 in nine games and, having won back his place in the side at the start of last season, the left-hander broke his hand after punching a dressing room wall following a dismissal.