Stanworth’s surprise exit from Lancashire

JOHN STANWORTH

CRICKET: 

SHAW-based John Stanworth is the latest casualty in the Lancashire Cricket Club revolution.

Under new head coach and cricket director Ashley Giles – the former England one-day chief – two other high-profile and much respected figures at Old Trafford have also left the county: former cricket director Mike Watkinson ended a 32-year stint last October following the club’s second relegation in three LV= County Championship seasons.

Matchday manager Ken Grime was another to go before Christmas, following lengthy service to the county. He has been joined at the exit door by commercial manager Geoff Durbin.

But it is the recent departure of Stanworth, the former Chadderton Grammar School pupil and Shaw St Paul’s and Crompton player, which will come as the greatest shock to many, given his overseeing of a production line of young talent to the first team.

The Lancashire academy chief since its inception in 2002, Stanworth was widely praised for developing the majority of the squad that won the Division One title in 2011 for the first time in 77 years.

His influence continued despite the county’s struggles in 2014. Three of his academy recruits – Haseeb Hameed, Matt Parkinson and Saqib Mahmood –joined the first-team squad and were picked for England under-19s.

Former first-team spin bowler Gary Yates has taken over Stanworth’s position as academy director.

Giles said the decision to axe Stanworth (54) was made due to a streamlining of staffing levels.