19 hours agoLancashire Immortalizes Cricket Legends with Historic Stand Dedications at Old Trafford
Lancashire Cricket Club will name stands at Old Trafford after former players Farokh Engineer and Clive Lloyd during the fourth Test between India and England. The ceremony marks the first time the Manchester ground has dedicated permanent structures to international cricketers who represented the county.
Engineer, 87, represented Lancashire between 1968 and 1976, making 5,942 runs, including 429 catches and 35 stumpings in 175 matches. He contributed to the end of a 15-year trophy drought by Lancashire, winning the Gillette Cup four times and five one-day titles in total. Internationally, he appeared in 46 Tests and five ODIs, scoring 2,611 runs at 31.08 on average, with 66 catches and 16 stumpings.
Engineer represented India in 1961-1975 and was chosen to tour England and Australia with Rest of the World XI.
Lloyd led the West Indies to two World Cup wins in the 1970s and 1980s and played a key role in Lancashire’s limited-overs revival. His international captaincy included 74 Tests with 36 wins.
The stand-naming will happen during India's tour of England, with the fourth Test starting at Old Trafford. The ceremony is planned for the match’s first day.
Lancashire’s choice shows how much they valued overseas players who changed the team’s success. The aggressive batting of Engineer transformed the wicket-keeping styles and his leadership created a team culture that persisted even after his retirement.
With the growth of one-day cricket, Lancashire started to recruit overseas players in the late 1960s. Engineer joined just before Lancashire's successful run in knockout tournaments, setting a model others later followed. This was the beginning of Lancashire dominance in limited-overs cricket.
The timing honors both players' contributions while India tours England. Engineer's presence during the ceremony would mark his first official recognition at Old Trafford since retirement. Lancashire officials confirmed both stands will receive permanent plaques detailing career achievements and county contributions.
This unprecedented gesture distinguishes Lancashire among counties recognizing international players' impact. Previous Old Trafford honors focused on English cricketers, making Engineer and Lloyd's recognition historically significant for overseas contributions to county cricket.
Engineer's wicket-keeping innovations influenced coaching methods still used today, while Lloyd's captaincy principles shaped modern leadership approaches. Their combined legacy extends beyond statistical achievements to fundamental changes in cricket culture and technique development within county structures.