Lancashire Women's 2026 T20 Blast Cricket Draft Preview
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Overview
Lancashire finished fourth in 2025, missing out on the top three by just five points despite being unbeaten in four of their last five games. They have a strong squad again this season to push for qualification. The signing of Meg Lanning is what catches the eye; she will be expected to lead the batting unit.
With only Sophie Ecclestone, Mahika Gaur, and Emma Lamb named in the upcoming England squads, the team enjoys strong availability elsewhere, allowing them to maintain a tight unit throughout the competition. Last season, three players surpassed 200 runs, while bowlers Alana King and Tara Norris took 16 wickets each. Lancashire used 21 players last term, so they will be hoping for more continuity this time around to build consistency and finally break through to the knockout stages.
Banker / Wildcard / Young Gun / England Pick
Banker: Meg Lanning (BAT)
As far as overseas signings go, few are more impressive than Meg Lanning joining Lancashire for the Blast this summer. She brings a wealth of experience, with over 100 ODIs and 100 T20Is for Australia, and arrives off the back of 248 runs in the WPL for UP Warriorz. Valued at £8.2m, she is an expensive pick-up, but her potential for massive returns makes her a premier "banker" option.
Wildcard: Emma Lamb (ALR)
Lamb offers excellent match involvement as an all-rounder. She was Lancashire's top run-scorer last summer with 336 runs at an average of 56.00 and a strike rate of 133.33, including four half-centuries in eight innings. Having only bowled three overs last year, she will be hoping to contribute more with the ball this time around. She is in the England side to face New Zealand, so while she may miss the start of the tournament, she will be a major contributor upon her return.
Young Gun: Mahika Gaur (BWL)
The 20-year-old left-arm seamer, who previously represented the UAE before playing for England, has been named in the squad to face New Zealand. Gaur was highly impressive in 2025, collecting eight wickets in only four matches with a stellar average of 9.62 and an economy rate of just 5.13. She remains an excellent young prospect with immense potential.
England Watch: Sophie Ecclestone (BWL)
Ecclestone is the side's marquee player, capable of contributing significantly with both bat and ball. Her limited availability is the only drawback; she featured only twice last year and is predictably named in both England squads this summer. However, she already has five wickets in two One Day Cup games this season, proving that when she plays, she is a point-scoring machine.
Potential Strongest Starting XI
No | Player | Role |
1 | Meg Lanning | BAT |
2 | Eve Jones | BAT |
3 | Seren Smale | WKT |
4 | Emma Lamb | ALR |
5 | Ailsa Lister | WKT |
6 | Eleanor Threlkeld | WKT |
7 | Fi Morris | ALR |
8 | Sophie Ecclestone | BWL |
9 | Kate Cross | BWL |
10 | Tara Norris | BWL |
11 | Mahika Gaur | BWL |