Run-machine Simon Katich has pinpointed England seamer James Anderson as the key to Lancashire securing their first LV=County Championship win of the campaign.
Andersonwill line up at Colwyn Bay against Glamorgan atColwyn Bay as the Red Rose look to build on successive early season draws against Worcestershire and Kent.
And as the 30-year-old continues his preparations for the upcoming Test series against New Zealand, Katich has highlighted Anderson’s unrelenting work rate as key to his success.
“There is no doubt he is one of the best in the world,” he said.
“The thing he has about him is he is so fit and runs at you all day and sustains his pace.
“He did it in the first innings against Kent– he worked hard all day without a wicket, then got his rewards later.”
While his current Lancashire team-mates were suffering relegation last summer 12 months after lifting theCounty Championship, Katich was enjoying one-day success with Hampshire.
And the Western Australian – who passed 20,000 first-class runs during last week’s clash with Kent– insists the hurt his Lancashire colleagues felt last year is acting as an incentive.
“They are obviously disappointed with what happened last year, but that’s cricket,” he added.
“It doesn’t mean they can’t play well anymore, it just means they had a bad season – that happens.
“It seems like everyone is hungry from that experience and want to change it pretty quickly.”
Despite failing to taste victory so far this season, the 37-year-old believes Lancashire have demonstrated enough with bat and ball to suggest they are hitting their straps.
But the former Australian Test batsman insists the Red Rose cannot rest on the laurels as consistency is key, especially in four-day cricket.
“The initial signs have been very good because we have done what Moorsey [coach Peter Moores] and [captain Greg Chapple] Chappie have asked of us in being relentless with the ball and the bat,” he said.
“In four-day cricket, being relentless is so important because you can have a good day – if you don’t follow it up the next day, the game can drift away from you.
“And so far we have been able to perform consistently. We have backed up performances day-after-day, making sure we control the game.
“We haven’t got a win yet. But if we get four full days and play the way we have, then that will happen.”
Image courtesy of LancsCCC Official, via YouTube, with thanks
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