Steven Croft

Lancashire CCC Captain

Croft has been at the centre of Lancashire’s recent successes after making his first-class debut in 2005. He hit the winning runs at Taunton in 2011 to clinch the county’s first outright title in 77 years. He skippered the county to their first T20 title in 2015 and led his side to promotion back to Division One of the Championship after deputising for Tom Smith. 

He was the county’s Young Player in 2007 and a year later the senior Player of the Year, recording a maiden century against Nottinghamshire (122) in 2008. He was Player of the Year again in 2011 after scoring 825 Championship runs. His handy off-spin bagged a career best 6-41 against Worcestershire at Old Trafford in 2012 and his 156 against Northants in 2014 was a highlight in the Club’s relegation summer. 

A gritty and determined one-day player he was named in England’s preliminary 30-man squad for the 2012 World T20. He’s an excellent fielder, a handy bowler, and opposition teams don’t feel they’ve beaten Lancashire until they’ve taken Croft’s wicket. 

Tom Smith

Lancashire CCC Batsman

2016 is a big summer for Smith after he made the tough decision to relinquish the Lancashire captaincy to concentrate on rehabilitating his career after a back injury robbed him of the previous summer. It will be good to see him fighting fit and firing in Dubai.

The 30-year-old all-rounder was an England Under-19 international and 2011 saw his breakthrough season as Lancashire won the Championship”. He hit 117 off 104 balls and took 4-48 against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge in the CB40 as he impressed on the one-day stage. The following season he smashed 106 from 46 balls against Worcestershire at New Road. His ton had come in 44 balls – then the fifth fastest ever in world cricket.

2014 was bittersweet as the Club were relegated despite Smith taking 54 Championship wickets and scoring 773 runs. He was picked for England Lions’ one-day series against New Zealand A and Sri Lanka A, but then injury halted his progress.

Gavin Griffiths

Lancashire CCC Batsman

Thrown in at the deep end at Edgbaston last August Griffiths swam to T20 glory as his pressurised maiden over contained Hampshire and booked Lancashire into the T20 Blast final. He played in the showpiece finale too as Lancashire won their first limited oivers trophy for 16 years. 

The 22 year-old, who progressed through the Red Rose age group sides and played for England Under-19s, signed his first professional contract in 2013. He took 3-37 against Nottinghamshire when Lancashire won the Second XI Trophy in 2013 and was a member of the Second XI Championship winning side the same year.

With only seven first team appearances to his name Griffiths will be hoping 2016 brings more opportunities and perhaps more silverware.

Liam Livingstone

Lancashire CCC Batsman

A big-hitter, 22-year-old Livingstone was an ever-present member of the Lancashire side that lifted last season’s T20 Blast trophy. He came to national prominence when he belted 350 in 138 balls for club side Nantwich in the local league.

In 2013 he scored centuries in all Second XI formats against Roses rivals Yorkshire, ton in June from only 47 balls and including 10 sixes. He scored a double century against the White Rose in 2014. If both Roses sides win their semi-finals at the 2016 Emirates T20 it could present Livingstone with another chance to create pyrotechnics against Yorkshire in the final. If he does, take cover!