Former under-19 Lancashire representative Matt White, who currently plays for Loughborough MCCU and toured Abu Dhabi recently as part of the combined MCC Universities side, hopes to copy former England captain Andrew Strauss’ successful balancing of playing and studying simultaneously.

Siddle has been included in Australia’s Ashes squad for the summer, but Faulkner – who excelled in taking 3-36 in the World Cup final against New Zealand last month – will be available until the one-day series with England commences after the tests.

Bury-born Kate Cross is looking to continue her progress in another Ashes summer that looks set to be the biggest one in women’s cricket history after Sky Sports agreed to increase its coverage.

England’s ninth highest wicket taker Darren Gough of all-time is a loyal friend to Kevin Pietersen and was best man at his wedding but thinks the controversial batsman’s chance of a national team recall are very slim.

Bobby Denning, who has held his position since October 2013 and has worked for the LCB in various roles for 14 years, accepts that cricket faces serious challenges to arrest decreasing levels of participation.

A petition launched by a Wigan politician aims to have Wigan leave the borough of Greater Manchester to re-establish links with Lancashire.

A youthful Lancashire squad will attempt to bounce back from the County Championship Division Two for the third time in 11 years after their last-day relegation in 2014.

Manchester comedy veteran Smug Roberts is getting into ‘Rocky training mode’ ahead of a mammoth 24-hour gig marathon across the North West for Comic Relief tomorrow.

Lancashire women’s cricket captain and Trafford resident Jasmine Titmuss has become the first ever Ambassador for Pride Sports, an organisation focused on LGBT sports development.

Wigan are still searching for their first three points in 2015 and have only won once in their last twelve games as they prepare to welcome Blackburn Rovers.

The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside are the winners of a £2.2million Heritage Lottery Fund grant for their Great Manchester Wetlands: A Carbon Landscape project