Croft handed Lancs honour
STEVEN Croft has been awarded a testimonial year by Lancashire.
The Red Rose captain, who was the first of the club’s academy products to be given a professional contract ahead of his first-class debut in 2005, has made more than 450 appearances for the county.
The 32-year-old will go down in Lancashire folklore as the man who hit the winning runs to secure their first outright County Championship title in 77 years against Somerset at Taunton in 2011.
The Blackpool-born allrounder, who has now made an English record 143 consecutive appearances for Lancashire Lightning in T20 cricket, was appointed club captain ahead of the 2016 season after being handed the role on a stand-in basis when Tom Smith stepped down after missing all but one match in 2015 through injury.
Croft steered the county to a first NatWest T20 Blast title and promotion back to Division One in the County Championship that season.
Said Croft: “It’s a great honour for me to be awarded a testimonial by Lancashire. Anyone that knows me will know how much this club, and everything it stands for, means to me, so I’m very humbled by this decision.
“It has been a dream come true to play for this club.
“I’m incredibly proud to walk out with the Red Rose on my chest and all I want is for Lancashire to be successful.
“We’re working hard at the moment to plan a range of events for next year, so I hope the club’s supporters will be able to come out and enjoy some of what we’ve got planned.”
Croft is the first player to be awarded a testimonial by the club since Jimmy Anderson in 2012.
Lancashire chief executive Daniel Gidney, said: “We are absolutely delighted to award Steven Croft with a testimonial year. Steven has been a magnificent servant to the club over the last 12 years and he has been at the very heart of Lancashire’s success.
“He is 100 percent a team player and a great role model for the younger players to look up to.
“He has led the team fantastically well over the last couple of years and we hope members and supporters of the Red Rose will get behind Steven throughout his testimonial next year.”
Lancashire return to action on Monday as they host Warwickshire at Emirates Old Trafford for the start of their Specsavers County Championship Division One match.