Lancashire's Croft questions 'stupid' schedule

Both Liam Livingstone (left) and Saqib Mahmood left the field during Lancashire's T20 win over Derbyshire

Lancashire interim head coach Steven Croft has questioned county cricket's schedule following back-to-back T20 Blast games.

The Lightning played Northamptonshire Steelbacks away on Friday night and only arrived back to their Emirates Old Trafford base at 3:45am because of motorway hold-ups.

Less less than 12 hours later, they were back in action at home to Derbyshire Falcons on Saturday afternoon.

Lancashire managed to win both games to move to the top of North Group, but Liam Livingstone and Saqib Mahmood picked up injuries.

"It was a bit of a late one, I think we probably got into bed at half four," Croft told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"They're some of the world's best players and I think to ask them to get out there within 11 hours of a game finishing, it feels pretty stupid and silly."

The two games were the start of a run of seven in 15 days to complete Lancashire's T20 group campaign.

They have further fixtures on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday before finishing with trips to Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire Outlaws next Thursday and Friday evenings.

The Red Rose are well placed to progress to the knockout stages, but Croft is concerned about the demands being placed on the players.

Livingstone pulled up during his innings of 35 and needed a runner, while Mahmood went off after bowling three overs.

"Putting the players at risk, we saw two players walk off the field through injury, which is never nice to see," he said.

"But I think it's such an easy fix in my eyes and other people's.

"It's a bit of a bridge too far to ask the lads to go out with such a quick turnaround. It's a bit of a mess but it is what it is."

'Minimal sleep and quick turnaround'

Cricket's domestic calendar is crowded with the Championship and the T20 Blast this month before August is given over to The Hundred and the One-Day Cup.

Fitting everything in represents a huge challenge but Croft believes spectators will lose out if the best players are not properly looked after.

"It's something that seriously needs to be looked at," said Croft, who stepped in as interim head coach following the departure of Dale Benkenstein.

"One of those players might be off that field for a bit of a while and I wouldn't say that's all down to the schedule, but it's not helped one bit for that player who's walked off.

"Liam's hamstring might have gone at any time, but getting minimal sleep and such a quick turnaround to playing elite sport is a tough one."