IT is a great time to be a young Lancastrian cricketer, because at Old Trafford now there is an opportunity for you to make your way in the professional game.

Our County Championship campaign starts at Sussex tomorrow and we have got a clutch of young local players in the squad, who, we believe, can have a significant impact on Lancashire over the next few years. Sure, we will lose a few along the way , but we believe we are set up to give them the best possible chance of succeeding.

My switch to cricket director and the arrival of Peter Moores has gone seamlessly. Peter hasn't changed that much at all, although as you would expect he has stamped his own style on things.

But the team work between the coaches is great, and that is important because if that is not right, the players can sometimes be affected.

It is a big year for cricket. In the last 18 months there have been more changes in the game than we have seen in the previous 10 or 15 years.

All the focus seems to be on Twenty20 and the IPL, but if you have a Test series against attractive opposition it sells out grounds. It is still a great spectacle.

So it is good to see the ECB putting more money into the County Championship, because I still believe playing in that competition can prepare people to perform in any type of cricket. Tweet