Whitchurch's Evelyn Jones has admitted she is delighted to be taking on the captaincy of cricketing giants Lancashire for the 2018 season.

The left-handed bat will oversee the Red Rose' women side's 50 overs and T20 action this summer after a successful first season at Old Trafford.

Jones will replace Meg Fairclough and she insists she is looking forward to implementing a positive and exciting brand of cricket for Lancashire this summer.

"I'm hoping I can make Whitchurch proud," she said. "I suppose it is a great achievement considering I only made the the step-up recently.

"I'm taking it in my stride. I'm hoping it's not going to affect my batting at all after a good season with the bat last year.

"I think it will do me good and make me better as a player, especially tactically. I think I'm at a good age to know I've got good experience behind me but so much more learning to come. I'm obviously more mature than I was in my early 20s.

"I'm hoping it's put me in good stead; I've captained before and I'm really looking forward to it – it'll be good.

"In terms of a captaincy style, I was talking with the coach and it's fair to say a bit of flair was encouraged. I just want to be positive; batting positively and setting positive fields. It's about taking the game to the opposition and we've got such a good squad.

"Last year, we were double champions at both county championship and the T20, which w as pretty unexpected as it was the first silverware Lancs have won. We had a great season as a team hopefully this year we can put a few good performances in early doors and back last year up."

Jones maintains her ambitions for an England call-up are as strong as ever, but knows she will have to perform at the highest level – the Kia Super League.

"I had a good season in 2017 but it's in the Super League that I need to really perform as there's more media around that," she added.

"I need to perform on the big stage and on Sky TV but that's not until late July. But it's where my performances will count more than my county performances so hopefully I can.

"My spell in New Zealand for five months has helped as I got game time. I had a slow start after breaking my foot but after Christmas, I managed to get a few scores and some runs under my belt which is leading into the summer here.

"That's a lot better than just training indoor in the winter here. "

Lancashire Women head coach, Daniel Atkinson said: "Eve enjoyed an impressive first season with us last year and we’re delighted that she will lead the side this season.

"She has worked hard on her game during the winter in New Zealand and I hope that we can see the results of that with us this summer, in both her batting and captaincy. We’re all very excited for the start to the season and we’re determined to back up last year’s success with more silverware in 2018."

Lancashire Women start away at Middlesex on May 6 in the Royal London Women’s One-Day Cup.