Lancashire have confirmed the appointment of Dale Benkenstein as their new head coach, signaling his departure from Gloucestershire.

Lancashire have appointed Dale Benkenstein from Gloucestershire as their new head coach, replacing Glenn Chapple who stepped down this summer after seven years as coach.

The move came after a thorough process in Lancashire, which ultimately saw Benkenstein emerge as their preferred candidate. The South African had previously worked as a consultant batting coach for the club during the 2021 season, a role he also held with the Proteas between 2017 and 2019.

His first head coaching job was at Hampshire, where he helped the club to promotion to Division One in 2014 and two Vitality Blast Finals Day appearances. Despite this, his Gloucestershire tenure was significantly less successful, as he only led the team to win just two of 28 County Championship games in the 2022 and 2023 seasons.

“I am honored to have been given the opportunity to become head coach of Lancashire Cricket. It is a county with a proud history and tradition and it is an exciting time to join the club. Lancashire is a county I have always admired. “I have done things the right way and have always produced teams that are resilient and difficult to beat. It's an extremely talented group of players to work with and I'm really excited to be part of it and bring my own vision to Emirates Old Trafford. Benkenstein was quoted.

“It's a new challenge for me personally and I can't wait to get involved in it. “I look forward to meeting the players and staff in the new year and continuing the squad’s preparations for the coming season,” he added.

Mark Chilton, Director of Cricket Performance, added: “We are delighted to have Dale as our new men’s head coach. He comes to us with a wealth of experience and knowledge, and I believe Dale is the right person to lead us forward and into our next chapter.”

“He is a fantastic fit for what we want to achieve, has proven leadership qualities, a strong track record of developing and supporting young, talented players to fulfill their potential and has also been part of successful teams, particularly in Durham and Hampshire.”

“I look forward to working with Dale and welcoming him to Emirates Old Trafford in the new year as we continue to build on the foundations laid over the last few years with an exciting group of players,” said Chilton.