Lancashire 2014: The red rose blooms once more.

[SaintPowelly]

Wonder how much was spent on Flintoff.

[Making_Splinters]

While we could stay up, it doesn't change the fact that we need a serious rebuild if we are going to start competing with the top sides. Lancashire feels very much like an international venue first and a county side second at present. It is hard to understand why we have so much talent coming into the side with so little to show for it long term.

One of the reasons Yorkshire and Durham have successful youth policies is because there's a strong infra-structure of high standard and competitive league cricket who feed youngsters into their academies. Lancs also have,or certainly had, a strong league system so should be able to be equally effective. What sort of message,thiugh, is being given to their Academy prospects when the club sign the likes of Ali, White ands now Buck from outside?

The big change for Yorkshire seems to have been a complete restructuring of their coaching system, Durham have always seemed to get the best out of any young player that makes the LVCC side.

We do have a strong league system, and a strong academy system, what is lacking is the coaching structure to take those players and turn them into top LVCC players.

We seem to, of late, continually sign unproven players who are simply not good enough in the end and do not fill the holes in the squad. Ali and Tahir had long standing records of being injured, Buck and White have shocking records, we could go further back and look at how Sutton was brought in shutting Cross out of the side.

Aside from Buttler when was the last top quality domestic signing we made?

[Making_Splinters]

Wonder how much was spent on Flintoff.

Next to nothing, he was given a percentage of the gates.

[westoelad]

Well Butler was probably the most crass signing of all. It was pretty obvious that he was going to be hot-housed into the England set up and lost to County cricket as has happened. Prince has been a quality signing with the young batting buit around him. It was only with Benks and Divo in the side that Durham started developing batsmen.

[Making_Splinters]

Well Butler was probably the most crass signing of all. It was pretty obvious that he was going to be hot-housed into the England set up and lost to County cricket as has happened. Prince has been a quality signing with the young batting buit around him. It was only with Benks and Divo in the side that Durham started developing batsmen.

When we signed Buttler, it was clear that he was in England's sights, but I don't think many would have said he would end up as England's first choice test keeper quite as quickly as has happened. Prince has been a star for us, but he wasn't a domestic signing, nor was he one you could build a team around. We're in no better shape now than when he joined.

The central problem remains our inability to convert young players into consistent performers in first class cricket. Take Reece as an example and compare him to Lees. I really rate Reece, but unlike Lees who has gone from strength to strength, Luis hasn't so much gone backwards as pulled a u-turn and accelerated in the opposite direction. Brown, Andreas, Croft, and Proctor are all players who by now should be mainstays of a successful batting line up. They aren't and until the underlying reasons get adressed the talents of players like Haseeb Hameed mean squat.

[captaincolly]

Somerset in control against Middlesex, 320/5 after 110 overs so just 1 bowling bonus point for the Middle.

[Aidan11]

Wonder how much was spent on Flintoff.

Next to nothing, he was given a percentage of the gates.

"There you are Fred...one railing"

[captaincolly]

Middlesex 13 for 4!

[Making_Splinters]

64 for 7, after the Zummers posted 523. Couldn't be going much better.

[Making_Splinters]

Quite some recovery from the Middle, just have to hope they forget how to bat again tomorrow.

[Durhamfootman]

How does a draw affect Lancs?

[Making_Splinters]

How does a draw affect Lancs?

It'd put them 16 points ahead of us meaning we'd have to win and out bonus point them as well.

[Durhamfootman]

could be do-able.

they are in terrible nick atm

I guess you'd have to take anything that gave you half a chance, or even a quarter of a chance. Having them as your final opponent has to be a real opportunity. At least your fate will be in your own hands

I think you can do it!

(If you get the chance, of course)

[westoelad]

How does a draw affect Lancs?

It'd put them 16 points ahead of us meaning we'd have to win and out bonus point them as well.

It would be 19pts ahead surely-Middlesex 162 Lancs 143. If Lancs get that 19pt lead it becomes very interesting. Both teams would have the same number of wins and defeats which are the 1st two tie breakers.It then comes down to pts gained in both games against each other-Lancs would have a 1pt advantage.

[Aidan11]

This would have been an ideal match for Sky to televise next week.

A proper relegation scrap.