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Moores calls for patience

PETER Moores has called for patience from Lancashire supporters after his side staved off a third County Championship defeat on the spin at Trent Bridge today.

The Red Rose only had to bat for 27 overs to claim a nine-point LV Division One draw against Nottinghamshire after rain ruined the final day.

Notts v Lancs - Day three

LANCASHIRE are staring at a third straight County Championship defeat, and will have to cure their batting woes if they are to repel a potent Nottinghamshire attack on the final day at Trent Bridge today.

The Red Rose county were asked to begin their unlikely pursuit of 393 for victory, reaching 22-1 after six overs last night.

Jimmy - We'll attack the Aussies

JIMMY Anderson says England will attack Australia from ball one on Wednesday as they bid to win back the Ashes.

And the Lancashire bowler believes the current England side is one of the best he has ever played in and is capable of turning over the Aussies.

Notts v Lancs: Day two

LUKE Sutton has expressed his surprise at the inclusion of England bowler Ryan Sidebottom in the Nottinghamshire side for the current County Championship match at Trent Bridge, despite being named in the 16-man Ashes squad.

The Lancashire wicketkeeper says he finds the decision to make the left-arm seamer available to his county “extraordinary”.

Vaughan confirms retirement

MICHAEL Vaughan has confirmed his retirement from all forms of cricket.

The England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed the Worsley-born 34-year-old’s decision ahead of a scheduled press conference at Edgbaston.

Lancs can go all the way - Laxman

VVS Laxman believes Lancashire have the momentum to go all the way to Twenty20 Cup finals day.

The Indian put on a stunning unbeaten 162-run partnership with Steven Croft as Lightning wrapped up their group campaign with a nine-wicket demolition of Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge today.

Lancs consider Westhoughton ground

LANCASHIRE are looking at playing County Championship cricket at Westhoughton in 2011.

Chief executive Jim Cumbes and cricket director Mike Watkinson will visited the Bolton League club's new ground last week.

Lancashire hammer Notts

AN unbeaten new club record partnership of 162 between Steven Croft and VVS Laxman handed Lancashire Lightning their eighth win in the Twenty20 Cup as they beat Nottinghamshire by nine wickets.

Croft thrashed nine fours and three sixes in his innings of 83 from 47 balls while Laxman hit eight fours and two sixes to finish 78 not out off 53 balls.

Moores hails Vaughan effort

MICHAEL Vaughan can be proud of what he has done in cricket, according to Peter Moores, and should be seen as one of England's greatest captains.

The former skipper is expected to announce his retirement from the game on Tuesday after a day of confusion at Headingley.

Flintoff's Lancashire focus

ANDREW Flintoff brushed aside talk of the Ashes after his blistering Twenty20 Cup best of 93 off 41 balls against Derbyshire, insisting he was just happy to have helped Lancashire through to the quarter-finals with two games to spare.

Freddie battered nine fours and six sixes as he helped the Red Rose post a mammoth 220-5, their highest innings total in the competition's history.

Flintoff blasts Ashes warning

Andrew Flintoff’s blistering Twenty20 Cup best of 93 off 41 balls against Derbyshire ensured that Lancashire have qualified for the quarter-finals with two games to spare.

Freddie battered nine fours and six sixes as he helped the Red Rose post a mammoth 220-5, their highest innings total in the competition’s history.

Keedy is Ashes quality - Law

STUART Law will be trying to smash him all over Derbyshire tonight, but the former Lancashire skipper believes England have missed a trick in not picking Gary Keedy for the Ashes.

The Aussie-born batsman takes on his old team-mates in the Twenty20 Cup in Derby this evening, trying to deny them the win which will secure Lightning a place in the last eight.

Mahmood's Ashes ambition

SAJID Mahmood is out to prove he is good enough to play in the Ashes when he faces the Australians next week.

The Lancashire pace star is in the England Lions squad to take on Ricky Ponting and his men at Worcestershire, and he is planning to use the chance to show the selectors he can cause the Aussies some problems this summer.

Lancs lose unbeaten record

LANCASHIRE carried their batting troubles into the Twenty20 Cup as their unbeaten run was brought to a shuddering halt by Leicestershire Foxes.

Tonight's eight-run defeat at Liverpool is far from disastrous, with Lightning still looking odds-on to reach the last eight having won their previous six group games.

Life in the Lancashire leagues

Bathiya Perera is a Sri Lankan cricketer who splits his time between playing first class cricket for Colombo Cricket Club in his homeland and Glossop Cricket Club in the Lancashire County League.

Over the next few months, Bathiya will be keeping an online diary here at www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk writing about cricket, life away from home and anything else he might be up to.

Flintoff in, Vaughan out

LANCASHIRE all-rounder Andrew Flintoff has been selected for England's pre-Ashes camp after proving his fitness.

He is joined by Red Rose seamer Jimmy Anderson, while Sajid Mahmood is in the England Lions squad to face Australia on July 1.

Anderson's aiming great balls of fire

JIMMY Anderson hasn't got the best of memories where the Ashes are concerned.

And no wonder. In three Tests against the Aussies he has suffered three defeats and has combined figures of 5-413.

Flintoff in the mood again

ANDREW Flintoff says he is well on course to take on the Aussies in the Ashes.

The all-rounder put all his batting woes behind him to bag his first Championship half-century for Lancashire in 12 months on Saturday, although it wasn't enough to stop a 10-wicket defeat at the hands of Hampshire at Liverpool.

England rule the world

ENGLAND defeated New Zealand by six wickets to secure the women's World Twenty20 crown at Lord's. Charlotte Edwards' team were set just 86 after blitzing the New Zealand batting and were taken home by star batter Claire Taylor in the 17th over.

The success means that England are now champions in 20-over and 50-over formats and also hold the Ashes.

Lancs crumble to 10-wicket defeat

LANCASHIRE crashed to their second successive Championship defeat today when they lost by 10 wickets to Hampshire at Aigburth.

Their last eight second innings wickets tumbled for just 78 runs as they were bowled out for 254 just after lunch on the final day.

Mike Watkinson column

WE said farewell to one world-class player last week, and welcomed another one.

Ashwell Prince has been really instrumental in all the good things we have done this season. He has been a great example on the field and off it as well, playing his part in team chats and our game strategies.

LIVE: Lancs v Hampshire - Day Three

MAL Loye survived two hours of impressions from Dominic Cork to help fire Lancashire’s rescue bid at Liverpool.

The Red Rose opener played what he himself described as his “best for some time” in making 55 as Lancashire’s top order battled back against Hampshire on the third day of the Championship clash at Liverpool.

Laxman flies back to unfinished task

LANCASHIRE players still talk about the speech VVS Laxman gave before the final day of the 2007 season.

They faced what seemed an impossible task, making 489 against Surrey at The Oval, to win the club's first outright County Championship in more than 70 years.

Smith injury blow for Lancashire

LANCASHIRE have been dealt a blow with the news that Tom Smith will be out of action for at least a month with a side strain.

A scan has revealed the all-rounder suffered a muscle tear to his right side during the warm-up on the opening day of last week's County Championship match with Durham at the Riverside.

Lights out for England

ENGLAND suffered more Oval heartbreak against West Indies last night when they slumped to a narrow defeat to miss out on an ICC World Twenty20 semi-final place.

Five years after losing in the dark at the same ground against the same opponents in the ICC Champions Trophy final, England crashed out with a five-wicket defeat under the Duckworth/Lewis regulations for a rain-affected match.

England knock out holders

England kept their own World Twenty20 hopes alive and knocked holders India out of the competition with a thrilling three-run victory at Lord’s.

Paul Collingwood’s team produced a composed display to defend their score of 153 for seven.

Lancs defeated at Riverside

ANDREW Flintoff was dismissed for a duck on Saturday as Lancashire crumbled to a 138-run defeat at Durham.

Lancs were bowled out for 135 in their second innings as Steve Harmison collected his first five-wicket haul of the season.

Talking cricket with Bathiya Perera

Bathiya Perera is a Sri Lankan cricketer who splits his time between playing first class cricket for Colombo Cricket Club in his homeland and Glossop Cricket Club in the Lancashire County League.

Gary Keedy column

PICKING our side at the moment is a nightmare for Peter Moores and Glen Chapple. It has been great this week to see Mal Loye back in the team after missing the start of the season.

But I felt sorry for Steven Croft, who was the man who had to make way. And it has been the same for Kyle Hogg in recent weeks and neither of them have done anything wrong.

England beaten by S Africa

England failed their first major test of their credentials as potential ICC World Twenty20 challengers after a comprehensive defeat to highly-fancied South Africa.

Having secured their progress to the Super Eight stage of the event with an impressive victory over Pakistan last Sunday, England always knew they would have a better guide of their abilities after their three next matches.

Lancs face uphill battle

BOTH Durham and Lancashire produced a master-class of bowling at the Riverside today, but it was the hosts who claimed the honours after day two of the County Championship clash.

Graham Onions and Steve Harmison, England’s present and past, claimed four wickets apiece to bowl Lancashire out for 116 inside 44 overs in reply to the home side’s first innings 244.

Durham v Lancs: Day one

All eyes were on Andrew Flintoff’s latest return from injury for Lancashire at Durham yesterday but take your eye off Glen Chapple and you will pay.

Freddie came through his first day of cricket for seven weeks with flying colours, taking 2-30 from 12 overs to reduce the reigning county champions to 212-8 at the end of a rain-affected opening day of the LV Division One clash at the Riverside.

Freddie's back

ANDREW Flintoff has today been named in Lancashire's side for their County Championship match with Durham at the Riverside.

The England all-rounder has expected to make his comeback in next week's clash with Hampshire, however, after bowling outside for the first time at Old Trafford this week and batting extensively in the nets, he was given the all-clear by ECB medics.

Will Freddie be ready?

ANDREW Flintoff will travel to Durham with the Lancashire party to continue his rehabilitation from knee surgery.

The England all-rounder has built up his workload with three days of bowling as he prepares for the latest in a long line of comebacks from injury. It remains to be seen whether that will be against the county champions at Chester-le-Street tomorrow.

No rush for Flintoff

PETER Moores has tonight reiterated Lancashire’s and England’s stance on the fitness of Andrew Flintoff, saying the star all-rounder will not be rushed back from knee surgery.

The 31 year-old has been batting and bowling outdoors this week, while watching Lancashire’s County Championship draw against Somerset at Old Trafford.

Horton guides Lancs towards draw

PAUL Horton hit 68 this afternoon, his second half-century of the match, to ensure that Lancashire will not lose their County Championship match against Somerset at Old Trafford.

The 26 year-old opener shared a second wicket stand of 106 with Mal Loye (39), but both departed before tea.

KP to the rescue for England

Kevin Pietersen made a timely return from injury to secure England’s progress into the next stage of the World Twenty20 tournament following an emphatic win over Pakistan.

The former England captain missed Friday’s humiliating defeat by Holland with a recurrence of the Achilles problems which have plagued him since this winter’s tour of the Caribbean.

Freddie sees Lancs collapse

Andrew Flintoff watched a Lancashire batting collapse hand the early advantage to Somerset as both sides returned to County Championship action at Old Trafford today.

Play finally got under way in this LV Division One fixture at the start of day two and the hosts won the toss and elected to bat.

Jim Cumbes column

WE have made a great start to our Twenty20 Cup campaign but despite the good results on the field, it has been more challenging this year to pull in the crowds.

But Lancashire have not been alone in this, the figures are down all over the country and there are a couple of reasons for it.

Watkinson: Flintoff must be fit to play

ANDREW Flintoff won’t play for Lancashire until he is fully fit.

Red Rose cricket director Mike Watkinson admits that in recent years the all-rounder has sometimes used games with the county as a fitness test before making a return for England.

David Lloyd column

LANCASHIRE are the talk of the county circuit - and rightly so.

I got the chance to watch them a couple of times last week and they really impressed me. I was chatting to Luke Wright after the England game the other night and he made the point of mentioning how well Lancs had started and you can see sides are taking notice of what is happening at Old Trafford.

England humiliated by Holland

ENGLAND suffered their biggest humiliation in limited-overs history as they were defeated by minnows Holland in the opening match of the World Twenty20.

The Dutch claimed victory by four wickets in the rain at Lord's to send their 1,000 fans wild.

Flintoff focused on Lancs

ANDREW Flintoff will be cheering England on in the World Twenty20, but his focus will be on getting back in the Lancashire side.

The all-rounder has been forced to sit out the tournament as he recovers from keyhole surgery on his knee.

Lancs hit six in Twenty20

IN 2006 Tom Smith had to make way for Andrew Flintoff in the Lancashire side as the England all-rounder returned from injury.

Three years on and Freddie is on the verge of another Red Rose return, this time after recovering from a knee operation.

Spin ace Parry's a likely lad

STEPHEN Parry hasn't yet made his County Championship debut for Lancashire, but he is already being compared to one of the world's best spinners.

England crush Windies again

ENGLAND finally settled on their opening partnership to lead them into the ICC World Twenty tournament after Luke Wright and Ravi Bopara smashed them to a nine-wicket warm-up victory over West Indies at Lord's tonight.

Since playing their inaugural Twenty20 international against Australia four years ago, England have tried 11 different pairings at the top of the order with little success in 15 matches.

Lancs hammer Derby in Twenty20

LANCASHIRE legends Clive Lloyd and Jack Simmons ambled across the Old Trafford outfield they once graced last night having seen their contemporaries demolish Derbyshire.

And the duo, who helped the Red Rose bloom into the kings of one-day cricket, surely must have been impressed with the latest bunch of players shouldered with the burden of repeating their success.

Collingwood hails England effort

PAUL Collingwood praised England's spirit as they refused to panic on the way to a six-wicket victory in their World Twenty20 warm-up match against Scotland.

Collingwood agreed England could easily have lost their way against the competition minnows, in a showpiece fixture at Trent Bridge which appeared almost designed for an embarrassing shock result.

Lancs beat Leics in Twenty20

LANCASHIRE'S Twenty20 credentials were tested for the first time this season by former champions Leicestershire at Grace Road but their unbeaten record is still intact thanks to Francois du Plessis’ brilliant career best.

The Lightning had won their three previous North Division games comfortably, but this was a bit more of a struggle as they slipped to 47-3 in the sixth over of their pursuit of 148.

High fives for Lancashire

LANCASHIRE Lightning continued their stunning start to the Twenty20 Cup with another bruising win over Yorkshire, this time in front of a raucous Headingley crowd.

The spinners have been prominent figures in their first two wins, including Tuesday's mauling of the White Rose at Old Trafford, but seamers Glen Chapple and Sajid Mahmood did the business.

David Lloyd column

GET ready to be entertained because the World Twenty20 is on its way! And even though most will be backing India to retain their trophy, my money is on South Africa.

If the tournament was being held on the sub-continent then I would be behind the holders all the way, but I just think they won't be the same force in English conditions.

Lancs beat Notts in Twenty20

THERE is an old adage in cricket that suggests catches win matches. It is certainly working for Lancashire in the Twenty20 Cup.

Steven Croft and Stephen Parry have both taken stunners, and now the Lightning have won two from two after Thursday night’s 11-run success over Nottinghamshire at Old Trafford.

Local cricket round up

ALDERLEY Edge have been left reeling after a 'potentially fatal blow' to their Cheshire County League hopes.

The champions have been docked 35 points after their overseas player Sohail Rauf made an unauthorised appearance for Burslem in the Staffordshire Cup and then played for Alderley the week after.

Flintoff out of World Twenty20

LANCASHIRE all-rounder Andrew Flintoff faces a race to prove his fitness for this summer’s Ashes series after he was ruled out of the ICC World Twenty20.

The 31-year-old was officially replaced in England’s squad by Yorkshire leg-spinner Adil Rashid, who is yet to play a senior international game, due to Flintoff’s failure to regain his fitness following a knee operation.

Croft soars in Lancs triumph

Steven Croft helped Lancashire to a crushing Twenty20 Cup victory over Yorkshire at Old Trafford last night by taking one of the catches of the season.

The all action all-rounder, to the amazement of the 8,000 strong crowd, pocketed the wicket of former England captain Michael Vaughan in his right-hand on the deep mid-wicket boundary while diving backwards.

Series win for England

Andrew Strauss believes he is passing on the England captaincy with the team in good shape for more testing events following the NatWest Series triumph over West Indies.

Strauss will combine rest with some County Championship matches in the next few weeks in preparation for the Ashes while the majority of the XI which totally outplayed the West Indians turn their attention to the World Twenty20.

England cruise to victory

ENGLAND coasted to a six-wicket victory over the mis-firing West Indies at Bristol to take an unassailable 1-0 NatWest Series lead.

Stuart Broad (four for 46) and occasional seamer Paul Collingwood (three for 16) did Andrew Strauss proud, after he had chosen to bowl first upon detecting a tinge of green in a pacy pitch.

Lancs reach semis

FRANCOIS du Plessis blasted Lancashire into the semi-finals of the Friends Provident Trophy with a stunning century at Old Trafford today.

The South African smashed the fastest ton in county cricket this season as he made an unbeaten 113 in Lightning’s 67-run win over Essex Eagles.

Preview: Lancs v Essex

LANCASHIRE captain Glen Chapple has been passed fit to play in tomorrow's Friend's Provident Trophy quarter-final against Essex at Old Trafford.

A slight calf injury kept the skipper out of the final three group games - including Wednesday's home defeat by the Eagles.

Saj's Lightning flashback

THE hurt of 2006 will help spur Sajid Mahmood on tomorrow as Lancashire bid to reach the semi-finals of the Friends Provident Trophy.

Lightning take on Essex in the last eight at Old Trafford (noon) knowing they are just two games from a return to Lord's, where they lost to Sussex in the final three years ago.

Giles fears for Fred and KP

ENGLAND selector Ashley Giles acknowledges there are concerns over injuries to key duo Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen ahead of a crucial summer of cricket.

In addition to the one-day series against West Indies, England host the second World Twenty20 and then move on to an Ashes summer.

England v West Indies abandoned

THE opening match of England's NatWest one-day series against West Indies at Headingley has been abandoned without a ball being bowled because of rain.

Lancs face Essex rematch

LANCASHIRE will have to overcome their Essex hoodoo if they are to reach the semi-finals of the Friends Provident Trophy.

Lightning slipped to their second defeat at the hands of the Eagles in the group stages of the competition at Old Trafford yesterday, and were then drawn against them for Saturday’s home quarter-final.

LIVE: Lancs v Essex

FRANCOIS du Plessis hit a half-century as Lancashire set Essex a target of 215 in their final Friends Provident Trophy group game at Old Trafford today.

Despite having already won Group D and secured home advantage for Saturday’s quarter-final, Lancashire fielded a full-strength side against the Eagles with only the injured Mal Loye and Glen Chapple, who is nursing a slight calf tear, missing.

KP out of one-day series

ENGLAND have been dealt a huge blow on the eve of the first one-day international against the West Indies after Kevin Pietersen pulled out of the squad with an Achilles injury.

The batsman will miss the whole of the three-match series, which starts at Headingley tomorrow, but the problem is only a minor one and Pietersen is expected to be fit for the World Twenty20 which starts on June 5.

Anderson is king of swingers

JIMMY Anderson goes into tomorrow's opening one-day international against the West Indies at Headingley ranked higher in the world than ever before.

The Lancashire star underlined his new status as England's leading strike bowler with a stunning nine-wicket haul in the second Test triumph at the Riverside, and that performance has lifted him to seventh in the latest bowling Test rankings - a hike of eight places.

Gary Keedy column

WE will have to get used to playing knock-out cricket again on Saturday, because we haven't done it for a while in the 50-over tournament.

Even when we reached the final at Lord's in 2006 the competition was run in two leagues and we booked our place by finishing top of the northern group. And we haven't qualified for the knock-out stages of the event in the past couple of years when the format changed.

Aussies name Ashes squad

AUSTRALIAN skipper Ricky Ponting has promised England that the upcoming Ashes series will be far tougher than its 2-0 series whitewash of the West Indies.

Having lost 1-0 in the Caribbean earlier this year, England gained revenge for that series defeat in emphatic fashion when it recorded a 10-wicket win in the first Test and an innings victory in the second.

Moores a treble winner!

PETER Moores believes he has inherited a little bit of gold dust in Lancashire's spin department.

In Gary Keedy, he probably has the best spinner never to play for England, and behind him are two young, up-and-coming talents - Stephen Parry and Simon Kerrigan - ready to challenge him for his first-team place. And all of them are left- armers!

England hammer WIndies

LANCASHIRE star James Anderson finished with a nine-wicket match haul as England wrapped up an innings victory over the West Indies by early afternoon on the final day at Riverside to regain the Wisden Trophy 2-0.

The hosts needed seven wickets at start of play this morning - and after two false starts because of passing showers, Anderson (four for 38) and Tim Bresnan (three for 45) began the job in earnest.

Local cricket round up

DIDSBURY registered their first win of the season against Chester Boughton Hall but are still propping up the ECB Cheshire County League.

A partnership of 88 between skipper Paul Sperring and Nick Anderson sealed victory for the promoted side.

Smith and Newby fire Lancs

LANCASHIRE were tonight fired to their sixth Friends Provident Trophy win of the season, and their second against Glamorgan, in Cardiff last night by career bests for Oliver Newby and Tom Smith.

The Red Rose county have moved four points clear of closest rivals Essex at the top of Group D, where they must stay to book an all-important home quarter-final draw, courtesy of this eight-wicket Duckworth Lewis win.

Colly: We can win without Fred

ANDREW Flintoff's possible unavailability for next month's World Twenty20 would be a “huge blow” to England but one they are capable of overcoming, according to captain Paul Collingwood.

Durham batsman Collingwood is to lead his country in the shortest form of the international game but confirmed Flintoff, recovering from a knee injury, is far from certain to be fit in time.

David Lloyd column

WHAT a non-event this Second Test is - and not just because of the rain.

It is pretty clear the West Indies just don't want to be here, they look like they have no interest in it. I know it is probably uncomfortable for them in this weather, but it is a Test match!

Second day washed out at Riverside

RAIN washed out day two of the second npower Test between England and West Indies at Riverside.

Alastair Cook must therefore wait until Saturday at the earliest to try to reach a new career-best score, after forecast bad weather swept across the north-east.

Mike Watkinson column

I AM absolutely delighted with the way our young lads have stepped up to the plate this season and made major contributions in what has been a very positive start for us.

We took the decision to open up places for them in the first team, and they have responded.

Lightning to keep striking

LANCASHIRE may have already qualified for the last eight of the Friends Provident Trophy but they won't be taking their foot off the gas in their final two group matches.

A comprehensive 114-run win over Derbyshire on Wednesday ensured Lightning will finish in the top two in group D.

England v West Indies: Day one

ENGLAND future paid due respect to England's past tonight as Ravi Bopara and Alastair Cook hailed Graham Gooch for his part in their Test match development.

The Essex pair each scored centuries as England put on 302 for two on day one of the second Test against the West Indies at the Riverside, sharing a 213-run stand for the second wicket.

Local cricket preview

HYDE take on Bowdon in a top of the table clash in the Cheshire County League this weekend - weather permitting.

Bowdon, boosted by Lancs staffman Gareth Cross, are the only unbeaten team in the league but will be tested by third-placed Hyde.

Du Plessis boosts Lancs

FRANCOIS du Plessis blasted his first century for Lancashire to assure them a place in the last eight of the Friends Provident Trophy.

He smashed 112 in Lightning’s 114-run win over Derbyshire Phantoms at the County Ground to secure Peter Moores’ men a place in the top two of Group D.