Lancashire are banking on Sir James Anderson igniting their faltering red-ball season by making him captain for the County Championship game against Kent at Blackpool, starting on Sunday.

England’s all-time leading Test wicket-taker will lead the Red Rose in their next two matches in the absence of Marcus Harris, who is returning to Australia for the birth of his second child.

Interim coach Stephen Croft is hoping Anderson’s X factor and experience can help drag Lancashire to a first victory of the campaign at the eighth attempt – they are currently the only winless side in the country in either division.

“Jimmy will lead the side and it is exciting for him and us,” Croft told BBC Sport.

“He has captained only once and that was in a pre-season tour T20 game in Dubai so it will be nice for Jimmy and nice for the lads.

“He has obviously got a lot to offer on and off the field. It will be a proud moment for him. It is not obviously all on Jimmy but it helps and his presence, particularly as captain, is a massive boost for the rest of the lads.”