Latest news with #Lancashire
Hans India
17 minutes ago
- Sport
- Hans India
Jack Leach is England's 'best spinner': Nathan Lyon
Sydney: Australia's greatest off-spinner Nathan Lyon has backed Jack Leach as England's premier spinner, despite the recent rise of Shoaib Bashir, who is currently sidelined with injury and expected to feature in the 2025-26 Ashes tour. Speaking at a Cricket Australia sponsorship event here on Thursday, Lyon shared that former England pacer James Anderson told him Bashir had been chosen to emulate Lyon's success in Australian conditions. However, Lyon maintained that Leach remains England's best spin option. "I obviously played with Jimmy Anderson last year at Lancashire, and they basically said that they're picking Bashir to do what I do," Lyon said. "So I took a little bit of pride out of Jimmy respecting a little bit of what I've been able to do in my career. But Bashir has been okay. Jacob Bethell is playing this Test match (at The Oval against India), and he looks like he'll take up the spin bowling from Liam Dawson. But in my eyes, Jack Leach is still their best spinner." The 34-year-old hasn't featured for England since their tour of Pakistan last year, where he had a relatively modest series compared to Noman Ali and Sajid Khan, who helped spin Pakistan to victory in the final two Tests. Despite that, Leach's performance - 16 wickets at an average of 31.43 and a strike rate of 50.75 across three matches - was still significantly better than Bashir's nine wickets at an average of 49.55 and a strike rate of 79.44. Since then, England have backed Bashir as their primary spinner in their last three series - against New Zealand, Zimbabwe and India. However, after Bashir suffered a series-ending finger injury during the Lord's Test in the ongoing series against India, Liam Dawson was recalled for the fourth Test in Manchester, marking his first appearance in eight years. Dawson has now been left out for the fifth and final Test at The Oval, with England opting for four fast bowlers and using Jacob Bethell as a part-time left-arm spin option in his place. Leach claimed impressive figures of 6 for 63 in his most recent appearance for Somerset against Durham at Taunton - a match that lasted just two days and was described by Ian Botham as being played on an "appalling" pitch. This season, Leach is the fourth-highest wicket-taker and the leading spinner in Division One of the County Championship, with 39 wickets at an average of 24.76, including two six-wicket hauls. During the 2021–22 Ashes tour, Leach played three Tests in Australia, managing only six wickets at an average of 53.50. He was omitted from the final Test in Hobart, where England opted for four seamers in a pink-ball match. Notably, Australia's Nathan Lyon didn't bowl at all in that game, which ended in just three days with a home side victory. Bashir, meanwhile, was part of the England Lions squad that toured Australia earlier this year, playing three four-day matches against Cricket Australia XI and Australia A. None of these games were held at official Test venues. He returned match figures of 2 for 91 and 1 for 109 in two games against the CA XI in Brisbane. In the unofficial Test against Australia A at Cricket Central in Sydney - where the Lions lost by an innings - Bashir took 1 for 74 in the only innings he bowled. Interestingly, Lyon was left out of Australia's most recent Test, against West Indies in Jamaica, as selectors went with four pace bowlers for a pink-ball match that wrapped up in just two and a half days. Despite recent Australian pitches favouring seam, Lyon maintains that spinners will still have a role to play in future Ashes series at home. "It is a massive role, and it can be a massive challenge for people who haven't done it in the past in these conditions," Lyon said. "But I'm not going to let my secrets out so they come out and perform well out here. Our guys know how to play spin really well in this country. That's probably what helped me produce my skill to where it is at the moment. I know I'll keep trying getting better, and we'll see how their spinners go," he concluded.
BBC News
an hour ago
- Business
- BBC News
Scout Moor: Plans to expand windfarm with 17 more turbines
Plans to add a further 17 wind turbines at the site of England's largest onshore wind farm have been submitted. Cubico Sustainable Investments is seeking to put the turbines on the Scout Moor II development between Rochdale in Greater Manchester and Rossendale, in Lancashire, which is already home to 26 turbines.A previous bid by Peel Wind Power to expand the number of turbines was supported by Rossendale and Rochdale councils but was refused by the then Secretary of State following a public said the expansion would mean enough electricity could be generated to power around 77% of households in Rossendale and Rochdale, while campaigners said they would "dominate" the valley. The 26 turbines already in place were erected in 2008 as part of the original Scout Moor Wind scheme is the first of its kind since planning rules were changed under Labour to support new projects, the Local Democracy Reporting Service previous Conservative government brought in new planning rules that effectively ruled out new onshore wind farm developments back in 2015, which has since been eased. Cubico said the plans marked a significant step in helping the country meet its climate goals, reducing reliance on imported energy, and unlocking the full potential of homegrown from the Say NO to Scout Moor 2 group have said the new turbines would be higher than Blackpool Tower, dominating the valley and providing little benefit to the said they also feared the high level of concrete used to keep the turbines standing would cause irreversible damage to the peatlands in the response to the group's concerns, Cubico said it proposed the delivery of a major moorland restoration scheme. It said this would focus on improving and protecting the unique peatland across the site, rewetting the moor, restoring native vegetation, and improving habitats for local Rowe, development manager at Cubico said the firm had listened to what people had said during a consultation and their input had "shaped a stronger scheme that we believe delivers for local communities and supports national energy goals".Rochdale and Rossendale councils will now consider the plans for approval. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
BBC News
an hour ago
- General
- BBC News
Time's up for firm to restore ex-fracking site, says resident
A woman who lives across the road from a former fracking site says she is "frustrated" the energy firm responsible for the fracking has applied for more time to restore the site to Resources has asked for a two-year extension to rehabilitate the Preston New Road drilling site in Little Plumpton, Fylde, claiming the delay re-establishing the farmland is due to monitoring required by the Environment local resident Susan Halliday said the work should have been completed some time ago: "They have already had one two-year extension – how do we know they won't be coming back again in two years time?" The BBC has contacted Cuadrilla for comment. Cuadrilla has applied to Lancashire County Council for an extension to planning permission, which ran out last month.A previous extension was granted in 2023. The company said, while work, including the plugging and capping of wells, had taken place, monitoring by the Environment Agency meant the restoration may not be completed before summer Ms Halliday countered: "It's frustrating because I don't feel we have won until it's all completely added: "The fence is still in place. Until that is taken away, it is still not a greenfield site." Her views were echoed by Josh Roberts, Lancashire County Council cabinet member for rural affairs, the environment and communities."We want the site fully restored without further delays – progress has been far too slow," said Roberts."Any extensions need to be backed by solid reasons and not excuses."Roberts, part of the new Reform-led council, added: "We will look to see if everything on the site needs to stay for another two years, like fencing."Although Reform's national policy supports fracking, Roberts said: "Fracking has its place, but not everywhere,"He said the geology of sites in Lancashire made subsidence and water contamination a risk.A consultation has opened on Cuadrilla's application. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
BBC News
13 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Crane lifts Glamorgan into strong position against promotion rivals Lancs
Rothesay County Championship Division Two, Emirates Old Trafford (day two)Glamorgan 261: Carlson 77, Tribe 61; Green 6-82 & 95-2: Carlson 43*; Anderson 2-20Lancashire 137 (52.3 overs): Bohannon 32; Crane 6-19, Fernando 3-26Lancashire 3 pts, Glamorgan 4 ptsMatch scorecard Glamorgan leg-spinner Mason Crane took a career-best 6-19 as his side go into the third day with a lead of 219 over Lancashire and eight second-innings wickets ran through the home side with a remarkable spell of six for 13 in the afternoon, Lancashire losing their last seven wickets for Asitha Fernando contributed a hostile 3-26 as Lancashire were bundled out for just former England star James Anderson celebrated his 43rd birthday by removing the Glamorgan openers, before they recovered to 95-2. In all 14 wickets fell on the second day, with Lancashire trying to produce conditions for a positive result as they chase Glamorgan in the second promotion place. In the first innings Glamorgan lost their last two wickets for just one run to set the tone for the bowlers' day of dominance, on a pitch offering turn out of the rough for the spinners and some uneven bounce for the seamers. After an hour's delay because of drizzle, Tom Bailey pinned Crane lbw for nine with his second delivery, and Bailey's wide was the only run added by Glamorgan as birthday boy Anderson proved too good for Ned Leonard, caught behind for Fernando struck back early when Luke Wells was leg-before for two, but after a slow start, Keaton Jennings switched to a more aggressive mode only to be smartly taken by Asa Tribe at short-leg off Ben Kellaway for Bohannon seemed to be well-set on 32 when Fernando struck again after lunch, having him lbw with a rapid delivery that kept low. Though Australian Test batter Harris managed to retake the initiative with a brief assault on Kellaway in gloomy conditions, he fell for 30 as he smacked a full-toss from Crane to Kellaway at mid-on, prompting slightly embarrassed was the start of once-capped Crane's wizardry under the lights as he made it a five-wicket haul by tea, with Phil Salt caught behind for eight, Matty Hurst lobbing a sweep to slip for 21, Chris Green chipping a tame return catch and Tom Hartley going lbw in the same picked up his third wicket and lbw verdict as Bailey went for two to the skiddy Sri Lankan fast bowler, and Crane finished Lancashire off with his sixth victim as George Balderson lobbed a catch to mid-wicket for got a double birthday reward in his fourth over, hitting the off-stump of Zain Ul Hassan (11) with the batter playing no shot, then diving to take a return catch from Asa Tribe also for serene Sam Northeast (25 not out) and busy Kiran Carlson (43 not out off 50 balls) combined to switch the momentum back in Glamorgan's favour as the lead mounted past 200.
BBC News
14 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
'Forever chemicals' fear at new waste facility site in Thornton
Plans to create a waste processing facility has prompted fears about the prospect of a new development on a site with possible pre-existing chemical Council has called for a risk assessment of the site, near the former ICI plant, prior to any work on the new facility at the Hillhouse Enterprise Zone near have begun into the presence of PFAS (Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl substances) in the site's atmosphere or soil, amid concerns the so-called forever chemicals take thousands of years to break council said insufficient information had been submitted with the planning application regarding the potential contamination risks. Wyre Council will not be the authority directly taking the decision on the planning application but will be consulted, according to The Local Democracy Reporting application will be heard by Lancashire County Council's Development Control Sterling Environmental Solutions, which hopes to build the waste facility, said it has been successfully treating third-party industrial waste, alongside pharmaceutical waste, for more than 30 years . 'Decontamination plan' Some residents have also raised concerns about the proposed waste treatment facility, fearing it could lead to possible bad Council said if an initial study identified potential contamination, a detailed site investigation should take place - subject to approval by the local planning authority - highlighting the development's "sensitive end use" It added if "remediation measures" were needed, a decontamination scheme would need to be approved by the local planning authority before any development could take place - with "written validation of the approved measures submitted to, and approved by, the local planning authority when decontamination had finished".It continued: "Any changes to the approved scheme must be approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority prior to any works being undertaken."There are currently problems with odours coming from the Jameson Road landfill site, in nearby Fleetwood, as well as concerns about PFAS contamination – a substance which has been linked to cancer. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
