Lancashire expect Chanderpaul and Vilas to set the example for younger players

Lancashire head coach Greg Chapple has defended his team’s system of signing overseas players on Kolpak deals after they added Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Dane Vilas to the side. While Vilas has been a beneficiary of the side’s longer term deal, it would seem clear that Chanderpaul has signed only the short-term deal obviously given his age.

However, despite all of this, the fact of the matter is that Chapple hopes for his side to learn as much as they can from an experienced campaigner in international cricket. Chanderpaul, despite having had his contract dismissed by the WICB remains a legend of Test cricket. Only Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis, and Sachin Tendulkar have played more Tests that the 42-year old Trinidadian.

“This evidences the club’s ongoing commitment to developing young players to go on and play for England,” a Lancashire media release stated.

Chapple said: “He knows what it takes to be successful and there is no doubt that he will have a positive effect on our squad. The talented squad at Lancashire is very young and Shivnarine will bring a healthy level of experience to help guide them.

“Whilst Shivnarine will undoubtedly have an important role to play on the field, his role off the field will be of huge importance to our young players. He’s one of the most experienced international cricketers in the history of the game and it will be a fantastic opportunity for our players to learn from him, in all aspects of the game.”

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Chapple said that Dane Vilas would be an important member of the side given his impressive keeping acumen. “Signing a player of Dane’s undoubted caliber and experience is a great boost. His aggressive batting style will see him as an important part of our T20 and one-day sides in 2017, as well as in four-day cricket.”