Lancashire County Championship preview: Keaton Jennings backs Josh Bohannon in new Old Trafford role

Lancashire’s new vice-captain Josh Bohannon has been hailed as a ‘positive influence’ by skipper Keaton Jennings.

The Boltonian batsman was the leading run scorer in the County Championship Division One last season with 1,257 runs at an average of 59.85. This led to the 26-year-old being given the captaincy for the England Lions as they toured the sub-continent in a three match unofficial test series against India A.

Jennings played under the former Farnworth Social Circle star on the tour of India and praised how his new understudy has developed on and off the cricket field.

“Boshy (Josh Bohannon) has really stepped up over the last sort of year,” Jennings said. “For me he’s gone about his work beautifully. His cricket’s improved and the way he’s gone about his professionalism has improved. The way he led the Lions was top drawer and he’s got a real positive influence around the changing room.” 

Jennings took over the captaincy from Dane Vilas in 2023 and led the Red Rose to a fifth-place finish in his debut season. He scored 794 runs last season averaging more than 50 but often played second fiddle to Bohannon as he spearheaded a talented batting line-up.

With Lancashire appointing new head coach Dale Benkenstein ahead of the 2024 season, Jennings was eager to reward Bohannon for his stellar performances last summer.

“It’s about recognising that and making sure there’s a step up for him to keep being that positive influence,” Jennings said. “His knowledge of the game is brilliant he’s going to help me out. It’s not for me to have eyes on everything or him to have eyes on everything, it’s a collective effort.” 

A product of the Farnworth Social Circle club in Bolton, Bohannon joined Lancashire in 2010 and went on to represent the Red Rose at all age groups. In 2017 he helped the U17s do the One-Day and Championship double and made his first team debut in all formats, during the summer of 2018.

With 2019 his breakout season, Bohannon went on to notch his maiden first-class century against Derbyshire at Old Trafford. The following two full seasons resulted in hauls of 805 and 878 runs before last season’s runfest had him on the cusp of an England call up. The phone didn’t ring last year - but as he enters his 15th season associated with the Old Trafford side, early Championship form may see both Jennings and Bohannon primed for a home summer England call up.

But Jennings joked there is one thing the Boltonian won’t be contributing to the captain’s table. “He definitely won’t bring a full head of hair,” laughed Jennings.

Lancashire’s season will starts with the visit of defending champions Surrey this Friday with the Red Rose looking to bring silverware back to Manchester this summer.