Austin tips Chapple to succeed

Ian Austin is urging new captain Glen Chapple to "go and do his own thing"

Ian Austin is confident new Lancashire captain Glen Chapple can bring the good times back to Old Trafford.

Chapple was appointed skipper yesterday after the county revealed they could not be renewing predecessor Stuart Law's contract.

And former Red Rose all-rounder Austin claims Chapple will start with a clean slate and can stamp his mark on a youthful side.

“Glen played a big part in the club's glory days,” said Austin, who played alonside Chapple in Lancashire's NatWest Trophy success in 1998.

“But over the last couple of years he`s struggled a bit, so he's seen both sides of it.”

And Austin believes the new experienced leader will be a calming influence on the Lancashire squad.

"They've got to finals while he's been there and also got to the last hurdle and fallen, so I'd like to think he'll be in a position where he's not going to panic if things don't go for him,” he told BBC Radio Lancashire.

“I think it might also make it easier for Glen now Dominic Cork and Stuart Law won't be there.

“There isn't that sort of prescence there any more and hopefully he can go on and do his own thing."

Austin, who retired in 2000, added: “He's got people around him if he wants any advice, but he's got a nucleus of a young side that can stay together for a number of years.”

Chapple was named Lancashire's Player of the Year in 2002 and has represented the club for 18 seasons.