Mark Chilton

Full Name	Mark Chilton
Nickname	Chilly
DoB	2nd October 1976
Height	6' 3''
Bats/Bowls	Right hand/Right arm medium
Shirt Number	21
Lancashire	Debut 1997. Cap 2002. Captain 2005-7.
Tests	0
ODI	0

Profile

Mark Chilton announced at the end of the 2007 campaign that he would be stepping down as Lancashire captain to concentrate on regaining his form with the bat.

It took him a while to do it, but towards the end of the 2008 season there were definitely signs that the opener was beginning to get back to his best.

And when 2009 began, it was soon obvious that the elegant right-hander was even closer to his best.

Under the leadership of new coach Peter Moores, Chilton had not only retained his place in the Championship side from the latter stages of 2008, but he had also returned to the one-day side after playing only one game in ’08.

Three games into the Friends Provident Trophy campaign, and batting at No.4 in pursuit of 240 against Derbyshire at Old Trafford, he hit an unbeaten 101 in a record unbroken third wicket partnership of 202 with Paul Horton.

It was Chilton’s first one-day hundred for five years - and on the back of scores of 89 and 56 not out in the opening two Championship matches, it marked a superb start to the season.

Chilton, now 33, went on to score 1,420 runs in all competitions, including 777 of those in the Championship, and a superb, determined 111 not out against Yorkshire at Headingley in August.

He was deservedly named the county’s player of the year at a glittering awards ceremony just days after the end of the season.

Following success with Durham University in the British Universities Trophy in 1997, the classy opener made his Lancashire debut the same year against Middlesex at Uxbridge.

He was capped in 2002 after scoring 761 runs, and topped 1,000 runs the following year. At that stage there were a few calls for him to be capped by England, but unfortunately the phone call never came.

He has 20 first-class hundreds to his name and five one-day tons, with his career best coming in 2006 against Kent at Old Trafford. Having started slowly with the bat, his 131 went a long way to clinching a three day victory over the men from Canterbury in May.

Before his University and county days, Mark attended Manchester Grammar School and followed the path taken by Mike Atherton, John Crawley and Gary Yates.

He is also a handy medium pace bowler, although that doesn't get used much nowadays due to back problems. His best of 5-26 against Sussex for the British Universities side was claimed in a 1997 B&H Cup win.

His only century of 2007 came against Durham at Chester-le-Street in June, and although the near miss at the Oval against Surrey on the final day of the season perhaps made it the most disappointing moment of his reign, it may also have been the proudest moment too.

Though, he will now no doubt tell you that his proudest moment was being honoured at the end of 2009.

Graham Hardcastle
(c) Copyright Lancashire County Cricket Club Ltd
Click here for career stats