Intreview: Steven Croft reflects on Metro Bank One Day Cup campagin
Lancashire Cricket head coach Steven Croft says his side have “grown” throughout the Metro Bank One Day Cup.
The Red Rose were beaten in the quarter-final by Durham at Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground last Friday, but had a strong group campaign, qualifying in second place.
Croft’s side won five out of the eight games in the group stage and only lost out on top spot on net run rate. Three of those victories came at home, with Lancashire winning twice at AO Farington Cricket Ground, and once at Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground.
Assessing the One Day Cup campaign as a whole, the Lancs head coach suggested he was pleased with how his side performed.
“I think it’s gone relatively well,” Croft explained. “I think two names I’ve just mentioned there, Rocky [Flintoff] and Mooresy [Joe Moores] have gone from strength to strength.
“I feel that they’ve learnt along the way, as well as putting in some great performances. Keats [Keaton Jennings], again, at the top of the order, has played on some tricky ones and come out with a real good number of runs, as have some of the top order.”
The experience of opener Jennings saw him score 580 runs, averaging 64. The impressive Flintoff hit 315 runs at an average of 63, and the equally impressive Moores hit 193 runs, also with an average of 64.
It was, of course, the first time George Balderson has captained in senior cricket, too. Croft was left impressed with how the academy graduate did in the role, working well alongside the bowling attack.
“I think Baldy’s captaincy, his first go at first team captaincy, he’s led the lads really well, on and off the field," the Red Rose head coach explained.
“The bowling unit [have played well] as well. I feel Bails [Tom Bailey] has been that senior bowler, Baldy’s done his job, as he usually does, Aspy [Tom Aspinwall] has come in and out from The Hundred and generally done his job as well. Arav [Shetty] is growing as a cricketer, he got us over the line against Gloucestershire.”
Despite losing against Durham in the quarter-final, Croft is certainly reflecting on the One Day Cup campaign with positives in mind.
“I think there have been plenty of positives to hang on to, and I think throughout the competition the lads have grown. Those relatively inexperienced players have gained that experience, and, like I said, they’ve put in some match winning performances as well.
“They’ve not just been out on the field and making the numbers up, they’ve learnt from their mistakes and they’ve put some performances in.”
Lancashire are back in action in the Rothesay County Championship this week. They face Northamptonshire in our Red Ball Celebration fixture, starting on August 20th. You can get your tickets here.
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