Head coach Benkenstein leaves struggling Lancashire

Lancashire have parted company with men's head coach Dale Benkenstein after a winless first two months of the County Championship season.

The South African, 50, leaves with Lancashire seventh in Division Two, having been relegated from the top flight last season.

They are the only club in either division not to have won a Championship game this summer.

"Following a difficult start to the season, we feel now is the right time to make a change, as we look to improve our on-field performances," Lancashire's director of cricket performance Mark Chilton said in a club statement., external

Former Red Rose batter Steven Croft has been named as interim men's head coach, assisted by Will Porterfield, Craig White and Karl Krikken.

Croft's first game will be Lancashire's T20 Blast opener at home to Worcestershire Rapids at Emirates Old Trafford on Thursday (18:30 BST).

Having finished ninth in Division One last season, nine-time champions Lancashire are playing second-tier cricket for the first time since 2019.

But they have had a miserable start which continued on Sunday as they were beaten by an innings and three runs inside three days by Division Two leaders Leicestershire.

Defeat left the Red Rose 73 points behind the East Midlands county at the halfway point of the Championship.

The loss marked a fifth time that Lancashire have lost by an innings during Benkenstein's near 18-month tenure.

And with expectations that the club should be challenging for immediate promotion, as has happened on each occasion they have previously been relegated, the club announced Benkenstein's departure on Wednesday by "mutual consent".

"After relegation at the end of last season, results have not improved so far this year and after much consideration, both Dale and I feel the team will benefit from a change in direction," Chilton added.