Lancs need experience to bounce back - Benkenstein

Dale Benkenstein was appointed head coach at Lancashire after two seasons with Gloucestershire

Lancashire head coach Dale Benkenstein says the club must bring in experience to have any chance of promotion back to the top flight next season.

The Red Rose's relegation from County Championship Division One was confirmed when they failed to win their final match of the season away to Worcestershire.

Of the XI who played in that game, five were aged 23 and under.

"If we want to play the cricket that needs to be played to get back into Division One, the team needs experience," Benkenstein told BBC Radio Lancashire.

Lancashire finished 21 points adrift of Nottinghamshire as they were relegated for a fourth time since winning the Championship in 2011.

They lost six games, including four by an innings and three of those in a row through August and early September, which left them too much to do in the final two matches.

Lancashire only managed to collect 15 batting bonus points all summer and no batter apart from captain Keaton Jennings averaged more than 40 runs.

Previous captain Dane Vilas left last year, while Steven Croft retired from red-ball cricket and that experience in the middle order was never replaced.

It was a very tough challenge for youngsters who were blooded, like 16-year-old Rocky Flintoff, son of former England captain Andrew.

"Division One has some very experienced teams," said Benkenstein. "When you do lose a bit of experience in key areas, we've seen a big difference.

"It was also a tough year to get quality overseas players for long periods of time.

"We needed that to help balance the team and to not put as much emphasis on young players to win us games."

Teenager Rocky Flintoff managed 87 runs in seven Championship innings

'Tough school for youngsters'

Benkenstein was appointed as Lancashire's head coach last December following the departure of Glen Chapple.

After a difficult first season in charge, he will attempt to regroup and lead the club back to Division One.

On each of the previous three occasions they were relegated, Lancashire secured promotion at the first attempt so there will be pressure to perform.

Now it is a question of helping Lancashire's youngsters to develop at the same time as producing winning cricket on the field.

"We have given a lot of opportunities to young players, but it's a really tough school to learn your trade," said Benkenstein.

"They now have a really good idea of what level they need to be at - that is a real motivating factor for them.

"But there are some holes you can't replace with youth. We're going to have to bring some experience in and that will be with overseas players."