LANCASHIRE vice-captain Steven Croft believes being dropped has made him a better player as he targets promotion in 2015.

Although the Red Rose county ended last term with relegation from the County Championship’s top division, 30-year-old Croft finished the first-class season with scores on 49, 87 and 60.

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Croft wasn’t in the team when the season started last year, but a good run of form playing for the second XI saw him get his place back and the Blackpool-born batting all-rounder didn’t look back after that.

He topped the county’s batting averages at 46.23, having scored 786 runs in 12 matches.

“I didn’t start the season last year, and it’s something I wanted to make right quickly,” said the Red Rose’s new vice-captain.

“When I did get the opportunity, I wanted to make the most of it – not to play any more second-team cricket.

“That was at the back of my mind, to get in and stay in.

“I wouldn’t say I took my place for granted in the years gone by, but once I was out of the side, I took a few moments to think about what I wanted to do with my cricket and what I needed to do.

“I went back to the seconds and scored some big runs, which was what I felt I needed to do in the firsts.

“Especially Championship cricket, I’m going to be playing more as a batsman, so I need to have a batsman’s mentality, which I felt I had last year. Hopefully I can start off this year as I ended last.

“There’s plenty of competition within the batting department, and there are going to be some pretty disappointed people around. But, at the end of it, we should have a good line-up as a result.

“Hopefully the Lancashire lads get a go, and we just want to get back up first go, similar to last time. We obviously want to win the division.

“A one-day trophy would be great as well.”

Croft is celebrating ten years in the first-class game this year, having made his debut at Oxford University.

He will mark that honour as vice-captain, helping out new skipper Tom Smith as part of Ashley Giles’ re-jigged leadership group.

“I had a season just a player, and I really enjoyed it having done some captaincy the year before,” Croft told Lancashire’s official website from a pre-season training camp in Sri Lanka.

“I’m really looking forward to working with Tom.

“We have a good relationship, and I can’t wait for the season to start and work on that partnership.”

In Manchester, Jos Buttler has returned to the nets at Old Trafford after England’s disappointing World Cup campaign.

He said: “It’s great to be back at Old Trafford where the facilities are fantastic. I’m also just moving into my flat so it’s great to be back.”