Dale Benkenstein Departs as Lancashire Head Coach; Steven Croft Takes Over Ahead of T20 Blast Campaign
Dale Benkenstein’s tenure as head coach of Lancashire has come to an end following a disappointing start to the season. The club confirmed that Benkenstein, 50, has left his position by mutual consent after failing to turn around the team’s fortunes, with Lancashire yet to record a win in seven attempts in the County Championship.
Steven Croft, the former Lancashire captain, has stepped in as the interim head coach. The club is currently one point above bottom-placed Kent in the second division, having suffered multiple heavy losses, including a crushing defeat to Leicestershire last week.
Benkenstein was appointed in December 2023 after Glenn Chapple’s resignation, but despite a promising start with the return of James Anderson, Lancashire struggled, leading to the team’s relegation last season. The poor start this year, coupled with a defeat to Northamptonshire earlier, prompted the resignation of red-ball captain Keaton Jennings.
Mark Chilton, Lancashire’s director of cricket performance, admitted that the team’s performances were “not acceptable” and confirmed that changes were necessary to address the situation. With the focus now shifting to the T20 Blast, which starts against Worcestershire at Old Trafford on Thursday, the club has made the decision to move forward with a fresh leadership approach.
“After much consideration, both Dale and I feel the team will benefit from a change in direction,” Chilton stated. “We would like to thank Dale for his commitment, and we wish him all the best for the future.”
Steven Croft, a Lancashire legend, now takes over the reins. He was part of the last Lancashire team to win the County Championship in 2011 and captained the side to victory in the T20 Blast in 2015. After retiring from cricket last season, Croft has been actively coaching, working with Lancashire’s Second XI and Academy and even assisting with England Under-19s tours.
Chilton praised Croft’s hard work and experience, calling him “highly respected in the dressing room” and confident he would bring a fresh perspective to the team.
“We are excited to have Steven lead the team, supported by William Porterfield, Craig White, and Karl Krikken,” Chilton said. “We thank them for stepping up ahead of our T20 Blast opener tomorrow evening.
