Mark Chilton reflects on start to life as Director of Cricket Performance
Mark Chilton has been reflecting on his first seven-and-a-half months in post as Lancashire’s new Director of Cricket Performance, admitting it has been both an enjoyable and enlightening start to the latest stage of a storied career.
Chilton, the former Red Rose batter, captain and assistant coach, replaced Paul Allott in the cricket department’s top position at the start of October.
“I’d certainly say it’s gone well. It’s been really interesting,” said the 2011 Championship title winner, when speaking to lancashirecricket.co.uk.
“Is it what I expected? I think it’s probably a bit more than what I was expecting in lots of ways.
“When you lead a department and part of the executive team at the club, there’s not a lot you’re not connected to.
“Firstly, you’re leading the cricket department. Then, the biggest change, has been getting to understand the business and getting to know what’s going on outside the cricket department. That is fundamental to the existence of the club.
“I’m learning new things every week.”
That has arguably been the biggest change for the 45-year-old, getting to know the inner workings of the whole business at Emirates Old Trafford.
He said: “Since I came back as a coach in 2014, you’re immersed in the cricket department. And there’s a lot of things that happen elsewhere that you don’t need to be aware of, to be brutally honest.
“In my position now, it’s important to be aware of it and work out how it’s connected to the cricket.
“I’ve got a wider understanding of the club and business, and ultimately it guides my thinking as to where we can go and how we’re going to do the cricket side of things.
“The latest part of the redevelopment is an example of the club getting to a stage where it is able to sustain a very well resourced cricket department.
“That should leave us in a very good place.
“I haven’t got experiences at other places, but I would say that I think it’s a club at the forefront of the industry in lots of ways.”
Chilton’s responsibilities are clearly wide-ranging in the cricket department.
Though he doesn’t have responsibility for the Lancashire Cricket Foundation, the two are heavily interlinked.
He has praised the work of the Foundation’s acting managing director John Murphy, whose team look after community and club cricket: “My job is to ensure those links are solid and sound and we’re on the same page,” he said.
Head men’s coach Glen Chapple and his team report into Chilton, as does head of talent pathway Chris Benbow and also Thunder Regional Director of Cricket David Thorley and his team - all of whom are doing some excellent work.
“I feel like I’m in a bit of an observation stage with the Thunder because I’ve got no point of reference at the minute,” he said. “I haven’t watched a lot of women’s cricket. I’ll know a lot more come the end of September.
“But I do know we have a hugely capable staff and a lot of good young and senior players.
“The key is development and improvement because as soon as money comes into it and you’re paying players to play, there becomes an expectation around performances. That’s, ultimately, the world we’re in.”
While Chilton is confident Lancashire are class leading in many ways, both on and off the field, he believes opening a second first-class standard venue at Farington on the outskirts of Preston - hopefully by April 2025 - will be “game-changing”.
“At the minute, we rely on the goodwill of clubs, and we have some excellent relationships to support both genders,” he said.
“Outground cricket remains on the agenda beyond 2025, which is when we hope to have Farington up and running. But, running a high performance environment, you want to take as much control over things as you can.
“Sale, for example, have been absolutely brilliantly with the women. Outstanding. But, at the end of the day, you’re fitting around a cricket club.
“It’s only because of their willingness and generosity that it works. But without that goodwill, we’d be stuck.”
Chilton has taken on his new position at a crucial juncture in English Cricket’s history.
The Test team are at the start of a rebuild after a disappointing winter in Australia and the West Indies, and as a consequence the future structure of county cricket is on the agenda.
But Chilton, who referred back to the dramatic four-day home win over Gloucestershire last month - settled with only 17 balls remaining, believes a move to five-day Championship cricket could be of huge benefit.
“That was a flat wicket, a Test Match wicket,” he said. “And I’m a bit of an advocate of five-day cricket coming into first-class because I think cricket should be played like that.
“Had we had five days on that wicket, as well as Gloucester did, showing the fight they did, we’d have ended up coming out on top in that game with more comfort.
“Watching that game, I was looking at all players. I know we have more experienced cricketers, but a young player like Josh Shaw running in with a great attitude and some pace, if he’s playing on a pitch like that eight times a year, he’s going to get better.
“He’s going to realise, ‘Crikey, this is hard work. I’m going to have to tighten my areas up or bowl a little bit differently during the quieter periods’.
“Now we’re used to playing on pitches like that, and the lads steel themselves. But it still doesn’t guarantee you a result.
“We were four overs away from dominating a game and not getting the result.
“But five-day cricket, that would raise standards, I’ve absolutely no doubt about it.
“Look at Josh Bohannon, he batted for 500 balls. And we’re saying that people at England level can’t bat for any length of time. But he batted for 500 balls.
“If you create the conditions, there is the talent out there."
Another part of Chilton’s role is signing men’s overseas players which are put to him by Chapple and co.
Pakistan fast bowler Hassan Ali is with the county for the opening six Championship games, a spell which concludes after next week’s home game against Essex.
In terms of a potential replacement for Ali, Chilton added: “So far, Hassan couldn’t have worked out better. He’s been a fantastic character who has brought a lot of enthusiasm and energy to the changing room. I can’t speak highly enough of him. His quality is there to see.
“I asked him if he wanted to play all season, but he’s said he has to go and play some cricket elsewhere.
“We’re very much in a holding pattern with that (replacement).
“It is entirely possible we could lose as many as five players to England. And I’m not sure Liam Livingstone will be available that much because of the limited overs series, Jos Buttler as well.
“What is the team going to need? We just don’t know yet.”