(To avoid any confusion it’s not the same as the Lancashire Thunder team which will compete in a new competition the Kia Super League designed to bridge the gap between county and international cricket for women.)

Sixteen players have been selected to form the core of the squad for the 2016 campaign where they will look to regain promotion to Division 1 in the Royal London Women’s One Day Championship and look to challenge teams in the Division 1 of the NatWest Women’s County T20 competition.

With the addition of Laura Jackson who played a season at Cheshire alongside playing Under 17 cricket for LCB Girls County Age Group in 2015 and Lauren Smith, Australian oversees player, the coaching staff feel there is good strength and depth in all departments.

2016 Squad

4. Megan Fairclough – Captain, Right Arm Medium Pace / RH Bat

16. Kate Cross – Vice Captain, Right Arm Medium Pace / RH Bat

6. Emma Lamb, RH Bat / RA Off Spin

21. Ellie Threlkeld, RH Bat / Wicket Keeper

10. Natalie Brown, RH Bat / Right Arm Medium Pace

2. Georgia Holmes, Right Arm Medium Pace / RH Bat

12. Laura Marshall, RH Bat

13. Lauren Smith – Oversees, RH Bat / Right Arm Off Spin

15. Nalisha Patel, Right Arm Off Spin / RH Bat

19. Sophie Ecclestone, Left Arm Spin / RH Bat

18. Shachi Pai, RH Bat / Right Arm Medium Pace

14. Bhumika Doshi, RH Bat / Right Arm Medium Pace

7. Hannah Jones, Left Arm Spin / RH Bat

9. Jess Couser, RH Bat

22. Laura Jackson, Right Arm Medium Pace / RH Bat

17. Rachel Dickinson, Right Arm Medium Pace / RH Bat

In the two warm up games it has been possible to give opportunities to 3 girls outside the squad due to England Academy commitments and workloads for some players. The three girls, Evie Priestley (Under 17s), Rebecca Duckworth (Under 15) and Georgie Holt (Under 15) all held their own and impressed the coaching staff with their attitude to the games.

Jenny Barden, Women’s and Girls Cricket Development Officer for the Lancashire Cricket Board, said: ” We as a squad are looking forward to putting in some consistent performances this summer, after being relegated in 2015 back to Division 2. We want to prove we can perform at the top level and with the squad only getting stronger we hope to do this. The T20 Division 1 games will be a good test of where we are at and give opportunities for players to stand up and be counted. I am keen to start to register the results on the board that reflects what the girls are capable of and enjoy working with this exciting group.”

Fixtures for 2016

Report courtesy of LCB