The Red Rose county have been unlucky in recent years in cricket’s County Championship, the prestigious four-day game that some fans believe is slowly falling victim to the more popular Twenty20 tournaments springing up all over the world.

Lancashire have a strong team and have been one of the best county teams ever since I started watching them as a boy. Although successful in many one-day events in the 90s winning the Sunday league, Benson and Hedges Cup and the Natwest Trophy on numerous occasions, the county championship has eluded Lancashire for over 50 years.

Last year Lancashire came as close to the county title as they could without actually winning it. Needing a record 489 runs to win in the second innings against rivals Surrey, they came within a whisker before falling just 24 runs short on the last day of the season.

'Lancashire have a host of excellent players in their squad, and the youth development at the club means new talents emerge year on year'


A win would have given them the trophy but the team finished in third place. This year will hopefully see the Old Trafford outfit dominant in the four-day game, enabling them to gain the success they deserve.

Lancashire have a host of excellent players in their squad, and the youth development at the club means new talents emerge year on year. The biggest name at the club is, of course, Andrew Flintoff. Over recent years 'Freddie' as his fans call him has been contracted to the England squad and therefore has rarely played for his county.

However, this summer, as he battles to gain a good fitness level, he is more likely to play county cricket for a while until he can reclaim his England position. This is great news for the Lancashire faithful who love nothing more than the big hitting all-rounder showing what he can do against some average county bowling.