'Full of confidence' - Lancashire map out path to Vitality Blast success

Lancashire’s attention turns to the Vitality Blast this week - as the T20 competition gets underway on Friday.

Steven Croft’s side head to The Kia Oval to face Surrey for their opening game, before returning to Emirates Old Trafford for a meeting with Notts Outlaws on Monday.

The Red Rose head coach is welcoming the change of format, and is hopeful the club can go one step further after suffering a semi-final defeat at Edgbaston last year.

“I’m really excited, as are the lads - the first clock of County Championship games have gone okay, I felt we could’ve played some better cricket, so this has come at a good time for a few lads to let their hair down and find some form,” he said.

“It’s a format we’ve got a really good record in, especially the group games. We want that approach again, with the lads full of confidence, especially at Old Trafford.

“We have to take it game-by-game, but we’re used to dominating and hopefully we can do the same again.

“In those crunch games historically, we do need to perform better. The group games are a great blue print for us of how we want to play our cricket.

“In the quarter-final we saw an unbelievable knock from Livy (Liam Livingstone), but there were a few little cracks in that. Then on the Finals Day, yes - we were depleted from a side point of view, but we felt that we still should’ve given a better show ourselves on the day.”

Captain determined to bounce back

While in recent seasons there has been a long gap between the group stages and the knock-out games, the entirety of the Blast will be played in a more compact block this time around - which is something that is welcomed by Lancashire T20 skipper Keaton Jennings.

“You’ve got your best players playing in your knock-out stages, it’s absolutely for the best because you don’t want your overseas going to other competitions,” he stated.

“There’s a week between the last group stage game and the final, which is how it should be. You want it all in together to make sure you’ve got the best possible product available.

“I’ve been to Finals Day four times now and not won it. There’s a sting every time you go there because you want to walk away with that trophy.

“We want to put ourselves in that knock-out phase, and from there you try to make the correct decisions to go and try and win it.

“This is an exciting little period - it’s busy towards the back end of it, but it’s really good fun. From a players’ point of view, you arrive knowing it’s high intensity for three or four hours. You’re there to compete for two points.”

Loving life with Lancs

Australian star Chris Green has been back around the Lancashire squad for the last few weeks, and is excited to return to T20 action with the club again - and hopeful of doing the same for many years to come.

“I love playing here - the fans, the crowd and the members really make me feel like a part of it,” he admitted.

“The playing group is fantastic. I’ve been able to build some great relationships here in the last two years. Coming back to a club, you very rarely get those opportunities.

“I straightaway felt at home two years ago. The conversation every year is how long I can stay on for, and trying to push that for as long as possible. I know I’ve got to perform to the best of my ability to warrant that, but I’d love to play here for as long as possible.

“The best part of county cricket is experiencing different aspects. Out-ground four-day cricket here you interact with members out on the boundary, having short conversations, which is a rare thing for cricket in the modern world.

“Being Australian you attract a bit of attention, good and bad, but it always adds value to it and makes my experience more enjoyable.

“In short form cricket, when the banter is coming at you, it’s important to give it back and have a bit of fun.

“Sweet Caroline is my favourite part of the Blast, when they cut the music and everyone carries on singing.

“We’ve got a great start this year down at the Oval - the weather will hopefully be warm and sunny. Then, we come back here (to Old Trafford) on Bank Holiday Monday. They’re two exciting games.”

Returning to action

For England international Saqib Mahmood, the start of the Blast will mark his first cricket for Lancashire in 2026.

“There was an intention to play red ball cricket at the start of the year,” he said.

“I went to Desert Springs, and I bowled really well. I had that drive to get back into it, but in the end the decision was made that I wasn’t quite ready for that. I hadn’t done the work, and I had to respect that.

“It’s not that long a time. In cricket, you don’t get that much time off to train. I actually had a little block where I could really train. My mindset was to attack and make the most of it because you usually play, play, play until you usually break, and then repeat that.

“When you’re injured and you’re watching it’s different, but I had my time and I’ve been really busy training.

“I don’t think I would’ve given the best account of myself if I wasn’t quite ready. I’ve put the work in, hopefully we’ll see that in the Blast and then with a bit of red ball when it fits.

“I feel good. I’ve been fit for a few months, just ticking over with my bowling.”