LANCASHIRE skipper Tom Smith believes his side’s pre-season trip to Dubai will stand them in good stead for the new County Championship season.

Ashley Giles’ side were due to fly out yesterday to the United Arab Emirates to play in the Emirates Airline Twenty20 Cup which starts on Friday.

MORE TOP STORIES:

The Red Rose will then head out to Sri Lanka to continue their preparations for the new campaign.

The squad, which will be joined by Ashwell Prince, Luke Procter, George Edwards, Gavin Griffiths and Toby Lester for the Sri Lanka leg, will plat two two-day fixtures during that spell.

Smith, who was appointed skipper earlier this year, believes team-building, as much as cricket results, will be high on the agenda.

“We’ve got a few new faces in the squad who will be coming out with us over the next couple of weeks,” said Smith.

“It’s important for the whole squad to gel and for everyone to get to know each other a little bit better.

“That will help us throughout the season – the closer we are as a unit, the better cricket we will play”.

Lancashire, who include Darwen wicketkeeper Alex Davies in the travelling party, will play a warm-up match in Dubai before they face the Yorkshire Vikings in the semi final of the Twenty20 Cup on Friday.

Smith told the club’s official website: “I’m not looking forward to the flying, but I can’t wait to get out there. Dubai is a great place and we’re lucky enough to have Emirates who sponsor the ground, who take us out there and put on the Emirates Airline T20 Cup.

“There are great facilities and it’s brilliant practice before the start to the season.

“The facilities we have here at Emirates Old Trafford are brilliant and we’re very lucky to have them but there’s nothing like playing cricket outside.

“It’s completely different on the grass so to get as much time in the middle against opposition bowlers and working out different game plans is invaluable experience for us at this stage of the season.”

Meanwhile, Giles is hoping his bowlers will earn from new signing Peter Siddle during the season.

“He’s a top class bowler and a top class guy.,” said Giles of the Australian. “He’s experienced and it’s great to have him in the ranks.

“It’s always important for the younger guys to learn from an experienced player like Peter. You can’t buy that and I’ve heard some really good things about him.”