Arron all set for ‘crucial’ year

IMPRESSIVE WINTER . . . Arron Lilley.

Cricket: 

HARD work in the nets and a successful winter stint playing Sydney grade cricket means Arron Lilley is brimming with confidence as Lancashire begin the 2015 campaign.

The 24-year-old all-rounder is heading into the final year of his contract at Emirates Old Trafford, but after being a regular in the county’s Twenty20 and ODI team last term, Lilley is hoping to make more successful inroads into the LV= Championship arena this time.

Lilley, who will also feature as captain of Drakes Huddersfield League outfit Delph when commitments allow, said: “It is a crucial year for me of course, I know that. But if I keep working as hard as I can, and doing all the right things in terms of taking wickets, then hopefully I’ll get the chance to stay.

“I’ve done okay in the ODIs and T20 competition, so if I can just carry that kind of form into the four-day stuff then fingers crossed it’ll work out.

“I have made a few tweaks to my bowling and worked hard on my batting over the winter. It’s fair to say I’m kind of prioritising the four-day game this year.

“Winter preparations have gone well. I played for Blacktown for four-and-a-bit months in Australia and I thought I did really well. I worked hard on my fitness, I bowled well and scored a few runs.”

The former Mossley Hollins School pupil believes Lancashire supporters will have plenty to smile about this year.

Lilley said: “We’ve recruited well over the winter so we’re all confident. We’ve got Alviro Petersen and Ashwell Prince back, and it’ll be great to have Peter Siddle for four games. The signing of Aussie star James Faulkner is a big statement too. I think he’ll do well in all three forms of the game.

“As everyone saw in the World Cup he’s a top player and of course got the man of the match award in the final. He’s given everyone a lift.”



twitter: @Smedders1966