WITH Lancashire's season about to start, here's how the squad shapes up.

MARK CHILTON (Age: 29): Nicknames - Chilly, Rodney Trotter. In his second season as skipper, and after steering Lancs back to Division One of the County Championship he will be looking to win it this year. Needs to find form with the bat early on.

JAMES ANDERSON (23): Nickname - Jimmy. It will be interesting to see how much county cricket Duncan Fletcher will allow Jimmy to play, because after a full season last year and a winter away, the old form of 2002 is slowly but surely coming back.

KARL BROWN (17): The Bolton-born academy scholar has not made his first-class debut, having only signed professional terms during the winter. If his batting exploits on the recent tour of St Kitts are anything to go by, Mike Watkinson has unearthed a gem.

GLEN CHAPPLE (32): Nicknames - Chappie, Boris. Chapple's Old Trafford career began in 1992, and he is one of the best all-rounders never to play for England. That has worked to Lancashire's advantage though - and he will be hoping to add to last year's return of 47 first-class wickets and 422 runs.

DOMINIC CORK (34): Nickname - Corky. One of the great entertainers. The former Derbyshire man has signed a new deal with the Red Rose county, and although his main objective is winning the County Championship, he hasn't given up hope of a return to the England set-up.

STEVEN CROFT (21): The all-rounder was the first product of Lancashire's academy to get a contract. Made his debut against Oxford University last season, and is hoping to benefit from Watkinson's youth policy. Born in Blackpool, but started playing cricket in Sri Lanka where he lived for three years.

ANDREW CROOK (25): Nickname - Crooky. The Aussie born batsman and off-spinner holds the record for the highest score by a Lancastrian in any form of one-day cricket, having smashed an unbeaten 162 against Bucks in the C&G Trophy last season. He also has a knack of pinching crucial wickets.

GARETH CROSS (21): The young wicketkeeper can count himself unlucky not to have taken over the gloves from Hegg. When a finger injury forced Warren's early exit, Gareth came in and impressed. He will certainly push new signing Luke Sutton all the way this season.

ANDREW FLINTOFF (28): Nickname - Fred. This guy needs no introductions (Lancs fans may say otherwise come the end of the season) after shooting to stardom with a Herculean effort in the Ashes win. A C&G Trophy or Twenty20 Cup final appearance will probably be the only games Fred plays for his beloved county.

BRAD HODGE (31): Nickname - Hodgey. Probably the most important season of Brad's career. He is Lancashire's sole overseas representative - and will be looking to catch the eye of the Aussies who dropped him after hitting a double ton against South Africa. When Twenty20 comes round light the touch paper and watch the fireworks.

KYLE HOGG (22): Nickname - Hoggy. Has had bucket loads of potential for ages now, and he will need to convert that promise into senior performances sooner rather than later. The former England U19s star has, however, had some horrendous luck with injuries.

PAUL HORTON (23): Nickname - Horts. Another one of the Lancs youngsters who needs to turn in a few performances. The Aussie born right-hander just missed out on a maiden century against Essex last year, and he will be looking to go one better than that 99 this time.

GARY KEEDY (31): Nickname - Keeds. The left-arm spinner has been one of the most consistent performers in recent years. An England call-up is deserved, but has not been forthcoming. Will surely get more than the wickets injury restricted him to in 2005. He should also benefit from not having to compete with Muttiah Muralitharan for a place.

STUART LAW (37): Nicknames - Judge, LA. Still not sure whether to class him as an Englishman or an Aussie - but what you can't argue with is his quality. He has been one of the heaviest run-scorers on the county circuit in the last decade, and is tailor made for all forms of the game.

MAL LOYE (33): When he first joined from Northants in 2003, he became the first ever player to score two centuries in his first two innings for the club. He was the club's highest first-class run-scorer last term - and like Brad Hodge, he loves Twenty20.

SAJID MAHMOOD (24): Nickname - Saj. Probably the quickest bowler on the Lancs staff, bar Flintoff, but he has struggled to find consistency. Having just got back into England's one-day plans, he will be looking to cement his place by firing his county towards glory.

SIMON MARSHALL (23): Nickname - Slime. The young leggie will start the season behind Gary Keedy in the pecking order, but he has the advantage of being able to bat. He has taken nine wickets in an innings for the seconds before, along with smashing Worcester to all parts in last year's Championship game.

OLIVER NEWBY (21): Nickname - Newbs. A pace bowler who hits the deck hard, Newby is another one looking to benefit from Lancashire's decision to go with youth. A spell on-loan at Notts, under the leadership of Stephen Fleming, will have hopefully done him the world of good.

TOM SMITH (20): The hardworking all-rounder is in the same boat as Karl Brown, having just signed professional terms. He should not be unknown to Lancs followers, having spent the winter at the ECB National Academy following some special performances for England U19s last summer.

IAIN SUTCLIFFE (31): Nickname - Sutty. The left-handed opener was the only other player, along with Mal Loye, to pass 1,000 first-class runs in 2005. If the boxing nut can do that again, the Red Rose will have a solid platform to build on.

LUKE SUTTON (29): Nickname - Sutts. Signed in the winter to replace Warren Hegg. The wicketkeeper/batsman has played for Somerset and Derbyshire, having captained the latter in 2004 and 2005. He is a model pro, but has a tough act to follow.

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