Academy set for start of T20 campaign
Lancashire’s Academy will make the trip across the Pennines tomorrow, heading to York for the next three days to tackle their North Group T20 campaign, which will be played in its entirety at the Minster city’s Clifton Park complex.
The Red Rose, along with hosts Yorkshire, will be joined by Derbyshire, Durham, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire.
Each team will play five matches - two games on two days and one on the other, with all the north’s best young talent on show in one place.
The top team will qualify for Finals Day later in the summer, alongside the winners from the Midlands and South.
In recent seasons, the North Group campaign - officially titled Group 1 - has been played across a number of weeks, just as the senior Vitality Blast is done. The odd double header day has been scheduled. The Midlands and South continue to do that in 2024.
However, in a bid to minimise travelling and the disruption for young players who have exams to contend with at this time of year, the northern counties have decided to experiment and get the group stage completed in three days.
The advantage of York is that Clifton Park is the home to two Yorkshire Premier League North club grounds - York Cricket Club and Clifton Alliance CC.
Chris Benbow, Lancashire’s head of talent pathway, said: “Travelling for a game a day in pathway cricket can be quite a commitment and expense, so every credit to Yorkshire and the other northern counties for pulling this three days together.
“For the last two or three years, we’ve managed to get a couple of counties to do something in a day.
“But it will be great to all be in the same place at once and to be playing back-to-back.
“If we have a good day, we can build on the momentum. If we don’t, you can come back quickly.”
Lancashire’s Academy programme has so far been significantly affected by the weather, with the Under 18s only once taking to the field this summer.
The Red Rose start their T20 North Group campaign against Nottinghamshire at 1.30pm tomorrow before facing Durham (4.30pm).
On Thursday, they face Derbyshire (10.30am) and Leicestershire (4.30pm).
On Friday, it’s the big one - Yorkshire at 1.30pm.