READ: Luke Wells previews 2023 season
Look at the careers of Luke Wells and his father Alan, who played one Test and a solitary ODI for England, and there is a striking similarity. Lancashire’s Luke, however, is hoping this season can provide the point of difference.
“Interestingly my dad told me that when he played at Kent, they also finished second in three competitions one season,” said the Red Rose opener.
That season in question was in 1997 when Kent finished runners-up in the Championship, the National Sunday League and the Benson and Hedges Cup.
Twenty five years on and it was Luke tasting similar frustration last season, with Lancashire finishing second in the LV= Insurance County Championship, the Vitality Blast and the One-Day Cup. Ironically, they were beaten by Kent in the latter final.
“Hopefully it’s not a curse on the family!” smiled Luke.
“It was frustrating,” he continued, before quickly moving on and taking the glass half full view on the eve of the 2023 summer.
“Add that to the second-placed finish in the Championship the year before, having thought we’d done enough on that famous day at Liverpool, it’s four second places in two years.
“Look, it shows that we’re doing 99 percent of things right.
“I don’t think we need to get caught up in, ‘Do we need to do anything different?’
“To play the cricket we have shows how strong a squad and team we are across all forms. More than anything else, it’s about dealing with key moments in finals.
“Hopefully the guys who have gone through those experiences will be better for it.”
Lancashire open the new summer with a televised blockbuster Division One clash with champions Surrey at Emirates Old Trafford on Thursday, the team they beat to pinch second place from under the noses of Hampshire last September.
“It should be a great game, and I think everyone is excited by it,” said Wells.
“We beat them comfortably when they’d already won the title. They were probably all off celebrating. But fresh season, they’ll be desperate to defend their title.
“Us, as runners-up, we’ll be desperate to start well. It should be a fabulous game.”
Wells is about to start his third year at Emirates Old Trafford since being released by home county Sussex. It has been a move of significant success for the left-hander who also bowls handy leg-spinners.
“It really has been a fantastic move for me, and it’s given me a new lease of life,” said the 32-year-old from Eastbourne. “Playing a key role in our white ball teams has been a big part of that.
“This is my 14th season in county cricket, but I still feel really fresh and fit.
“I’m really thankful to have the opportunity to contribute to wins for Lancashire. I never thought I’d have been in this position a few years ago - an all format player for Lancashire.
“Myself and my missus had our second son born in November. We have two boys up here, and we’re all settled in the area. We love where we are in Altrincham. We feel like it’s home now.
“I’m really lucky to be able to call Emirates Old Trafford home, and what strikes me is how much Lancashire fans really care about their cricket. I know there was all the drama last year around the structure of the county game and stuff. But it showed that our members really care about the club and future of the game.”
Last season, Wells and new captain Keaton Jennings forged a strong opening partnership in both Championship cricket and the One-Day Cup.
They only came together after Jennings missed the early stages of the season through injury, but they were the club’s two most productive four-day batters.
Jennings scored 1,233 runs with five centuries, including a best of 318. Wells scored 991, including a best of 175 not out.
If success is to come to Lancashire this season, they will need more of the same as the left-hand duo lay the foundations.
“Thankfully it went really well last year for myself and Keaton,” Wells added.
“I’ve spoken before about our similarities. We think about the game the same way, and the way we communicate during our innings helps us a lot.
“We’re similar in stature, though we may play in slightly different ways. But because we’re facing the same challenges as tall left-handed openers, we can talk to each other and offer advice.
“That definitely helps us when we’re facing challenging spells.”
The odd challenging spell will doubtless come against the champions this week. But come through them and Wells and his mate could set Lancashire on the road to a memorable 2023 - one which would enable Luke to get one up on his dad.
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