Luke and Kyle out to shine for Lancs

Photo: Darren Robinson

COMMON GOAL... Kyle Hogg (left) and Luke Procter have every incentive to fulfil their potential for Lancashire in 2011.

CRICKET: LOCAL stars Luke Procter and Kyle Hogg have been challenged to cement their places in Lancashire’s first team this season.

With money tight at Old Trafford, the budget for players is the lowest it has been for years and, with a senior squad of only 16, Lancashire are relying on home-grown talent to deliver the goods.

In recent years, Lancashire chiefs have been criticised for bringing in too many players from overseas and other counties, but all that has changed.

Lancashire’s only outlay – and a modest one at that – has been on 26-year-old Sri Lankan Farveev Maharoof.

And that means the like of Oldham’s Procter and Saddleworth’s Hogg will be given every chance to show they have what it takes to shine on the county stage.

Coach Peter Moores, the former England supremo, said: “The situation we are in will create opportunities. Some of the big names have gone, so the challenge now is for the younger players to move forward.”

The 21-year-old Procter, who learned his trade as a youngster at Oldham before joining Royton as professional, is clearly one of those players.

And he may be given an early chance in Lancashire’s three-day game against Oxford University which starts tomorrow.

Should he play and do well, he could well feature in the season’s opening LV=County Championship match against Sussex, which starts at Liverpool next Friday.

Said Procter: “I played a few one-day games for Lancashire last season, plus a couple of four-day games and it was a great experience for me.

“Hopefully, I will get my chance this season. I have worked on a few things with my batting in the nets.

“I would really like to bat in the first five, but I will be happy to bat anywhere as long as I get in the team.”

If Procter is given his big chance, then Royton will be looking for stand-in professionals for their Lake Garage CLL fixtures.

Procter is the Paddock club’s paid man, but his county commitments could restrict his Royton appearances to as little as seven or eight.

Added Procter: “I know Royton have been making enquiries for a stand-in pro when I can’t play.

“I do get down there to help out in the nets whenever I can or am not away with Lancashire.

“It should be an interesting season there with Alan Durose as captain and a new overseas player (22-year-old Chris Hutchinson from Perth) who I hear is very good.”

If Procter is looking to make a breakthrough, then 27-year-old Hogg is aiming to consolidate his place in Lancashire’s starting X1.

The last two seasons have proved to be Hogg’s most profitable campaigns and his county cap was just reward for a player who made his county debut in 2001.

He said: “I feel in good shape and am looking forward to the season. The aim is obviously to win something.

“We were involved in the Championship title race at the end of last season so, hopefully, we can take the next step”

Hogg, who averaged over 34 with the bat and took more than 20 wickets for Lancashire in 2010, acknowledges his good fortune in being a professional cricketer.

He said: “I had a job this winter, helping out a friend who organises gigs up and down the country.

“The hard work certainly helped me to appreciate what I have as a pro cricketer, doing something which I enjoy so much.”