Lancashire are the 2011 County Champions

Not been able to say that for 77 years

Absolutely brilliant.

What a wonderful day for everyone connected with the County Club past and present. Yet I must say this morning as I looked at the position of the matches at the Rosebowl and in Taunton, Lancashire were not the favourites. The fat lady had got the piano out and was choosing the song to sing to congratulate the likely winners of Warwickshire. But – as the old cricket saying goes “It is not over until she starts to sing”.

Now as I told you in my blog of Tuesday night the missus and I were off to Liverpool to see the Queen – for the second Thursday in succession. This time is was the turn of the Queen Mary 2 to come alongside at Pier Head. This she did most magnificently without the help of a single tug boat. She really is a splendid ship and there were huge crowds to watch her arrive. In fact if as many appear at the Shakers next home game they will have to shut the gates.

As we drove back home we passed by Liverpool CC’s ground at Aigburth.  I commented on the potential disappointment today. The good lady mentioned the fat lady and I coughed.

On arrival back at Turks Road I decided to check the internet for the dreaded news. What I discovered was that the fat lady had re-positioned herself and was now considering a different melody – something like “Lanky, Lanky, Lanky, Lanky, Lancashire”.

The scorelines I saw suggested a completely different scenario to the one I had headed off to Merseyside with. Now when you have waited so long for something as special as this, an element of doubt still remains embedded in the psyche. Loosely translated that means you cannot relax until the fat lady is singing out at the top of her voice. Bob Willis may say “Lancashire are romping this” but you still cannot accept it.

With the tele on, the computer on ball by ball from the Lancashire website, the missus cooking the tea and me checking on the phone, it was not until Croftie struck the winning run that I could actually believe it had happened. The fat lady was in full voice – “Lanky, Lanky, Lanky” etc.

The reason the good lady was getting the tea ready a little earlier than normal is because I was going off to a meeting at guess where – Old Trafford.

The meeting tonight was a Lancashire Schools Executive one. We looked back on the 2011 season and began our plans for 2012 but there is no doubt there was a special atmosphere.  We could all remember the many players down at Taunton from their LSCA days.

LANCASHIRE – COUNTY CHAMPIONS

Absolutely brilliant.

Definitely worth an extra special Tesco Moment.