Lancashire all set for Barbados

Lancashire will play Nicky Boje's Northamptonshire at Wantage Road on April 7 upon their return to the UK from Barbados

Lancashire are close to finalising their 2010 pre-season schedule, which will include two weeks in Barbados followed by four warm-up matches upon their return to the UK.

Lancashire are set to be one of four counties to participate in a pre-season tour to Barbados from March 14-28, which will see them come up against the University of the West Indies and another local side at the Three Ws Oval in Bridgetown.

The precise schedule for the tournament has yet to be finalised, but Lancashire will play a mixture of Twenty20 and 40-over cricket mirroring the revamped English domestic structure. They will also play a special two-day match against Roses rival Yorkshire.

Head coach Peter Moores said: “The squad returned to full-time training in late November and over the next few months will continue to work hard on all aspects of their own game.

“But there is no substitute for warm-weather training and this pre-season tour will provide the perfect opportunity to train outdoors utilizing some great facilities.

“We will also be playing matches against county and local opposition in all three formats, giving squad members the chance to put their winter training into practice and stake a claim for selection ahead of the new season.”

Pre-season schedule

March 14-28: Barbados Cricket Cup, schedule TBC

April 3-5: v Durham UCCE, first-class, Racecourse Ground, Durham

April 7: v Northamptonshire, limited-overs match, Wantage Road

April 8: v Durham, limited-overs, Old Trafford

April 9: v Durham, limited-overs, Old Trafford