Lancashire appoint Paul Farbrace as director of cricket after worst season in club's 161-year history

Lancashire have appointed the former Sri Lanka coach and ex-England assistant Paul Farbrace as their new director of cricket following the worst season in the county's history.

Farbrace will arrive at Old Trafford after Lancashire finished second-from-bottom in Division Two of the 2026 County Championship — the lowest placing in the club's 161-year history as a first-class side. His brief is to oversee a revival at what remains historically one of English cricket's major counties.

Farbrace, 59, joins from Sussex, whom he guided to third place in Division One despite the south-coast side beginning the season with a 12-point penalty after accepting an emergency bailout loan from the England and Wales Cricket Board. He stood down as Sussex head coach at the end of the season and had been set to step into a part-time director of cricket post at the cash-strapped club from next month, but will now take up the role at Lancashire instead.

Farbrace briefly led England's men on an interim basis in 2015 and previously held the director of cricket role at Warwickshire. "I am absolutely delighted to be joining Lancashire Cricket, and I can't wait to get started," he said.