Lancashire head coach Peter Moores has challenged the Red Rose to hit the ground running as the new County Championship starts at Old Trafford today.
Lancashire, who start their campaign against Worcestershire, will be playing second division cricket for the first time since 2005 after relegation last summer.
It came just 12 months after being crowned county champions, and Moores is targeting good early season form as Lancashire bid to return to the top-flight.
“Historically we’ve been good at the starts, but last year we didn’t get off to that good a start,” he said.
“In my first two or three years, we really got out of the blocks well – we’ll try and do the same as it gives you early momentum and gets everything moving.
“But, realistically, we know that our job is to be as committed on the first day as on the last day. That’s how we’ve had our success before.”
The Emirates Old Trafford ranks have been boosted by the signings of Simon Katich, Ashwell Prince, Wayne White and Kabir Ali, withLancashiretipped for a promotion challenge.
ButMooresis taking nothing for granted, with the formerEnglandcoach knowing his players are not guaranteed success and have to reach a consistent level of performance.
“We make no bones about the fact that we think some of the cricket in the second division will be tough, but we’re ready to get stuck in and have a go,” he said.
“We’ve had to try and look at areas in which we can get better – that’s a collective of all the players and coaches.
“There’s a real desire to go out and play.
“We know we’ve got a lot of good players, but we are judged by how well you deliver on the field.”
Despite performing well in one-day cricket last summer, suffering relegation a year after winning their first outright county championship for 77 years was hugely disappointing for Lancashire’s supporters.
And Moores admits all at Emirates Old Trafford have had a winter of reflection as Lancashire prepare to right the wrongs of last season, starting today against the Pears.
“Last season was frustrating for us,” he said.
“We played good one-day cricket, but the four-day stuff we didn’t really play that well and were frustrated.
“I think we all realise that losing stays with you a bit longer than winning maybe.
“You enjoy the winning, but the losing makes you look very hard at yourself and everybody’s had to do that.”
Lancashire team to play Worcestershire: Glen Chapple (Captain), Karl Brown, Steven Croft, Gareth Cross (wk), Kyle Hogg, Paul Horton, Simon Katich, Simon Kerrigan, Ashwell Prince, Luke Procter, Wayne White.
Image courtesy of LordsCricketGround, via Youtube, with thanks.
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