Cross keeps it simple

Gareth Cross captures the attention with a blistering 62 off just 35 balls last summer

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Among Lancashire's star-studded top order during last year's Twenty20 Cup, one name stood out.

Or rather, it didn't.

Surrounded by the likes of Sanath Jayasuriya, Andrew Flintoff, Stuart Law, Brad Hodge and Mal Loye, there sat Gareth Cross, unknown, unheralded and for the most part unnoticed.

Until, that is, he hit a blistering 62 off 35 balls to propel Lancashire to a thrilling quarter-final victory over Warwickshire.

That innings not only helped secure Lancashire's place at finals day, but saw Cross emerge from the shadows of the second XI into the limelight of the nation's favourite one-day competition.

A 23-year-old second XI wicketkeeper, he was the junior member of one of the most formidable batting units the competition has seen, but the fact that he was trusted to hold his own in such distinguished company is testament to the regard in which he was held by Lancashire.

Cross' first-team opportunities in four-day cricket have remained limited in the intervening year - Luke Sutton remains the first choice behind the stumps - yet there seems little doubt that he will feature prominently for Lancashire in this year's Twenty20 Cup.

A year wiser he may be, but Cross has lost none of his unbridled aggression at the crease, and spectators can expect to see the sort of incendiary strokeplay that left James Anyon nursing figures of 3-0-38-1 at Edgbaston when Lancashire kick off their campaign against Leicestershire tomorrow.

While some players have taken time to adjust to the demands of Twenty20, Cross has needed no such settling-in period.

"I just play it as it comes - I'm a natural sort of player," he told ecb.co.uk. "I've always been like that since I've been young."

Cross has been afforded the freedom to play the way that comes naturally to him

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Cross, who also hit 33 of 25 balls against Nottinghamshire in the group stages last year, traces his ultra-aggressive style back to his junior days in the Lancashire leagues, when 20-over matches were the staple diet of young players.

"Because it was junior cricket and you only play 20 overs every week, you have to try and make an impression," he recalled.

"I just went down the route of trying to play as many shots as you can. It worked for me when I was younger, and I've carried that on at Lancashire."

Lancashire deserve much credit for allowing Cross the freedom to play his natural game, which has not always been the case, according to the man himself.

"I've been told I've been too aggressive sometimes when I was growing up - and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.

"But Lancashire have never once said to me this is how you should bat. They know I'm a naturally aggressive player and they've let me play how I play, which is good.

"Now you get found out a bit by better bowlers, so I just need to be aware of different situations. It's about picking the right ball."

Cross worked his way up to number four in the Lancashire batting order during last year’s competition, but he is keen to wreak more havoc on opposition attacks this summer against the new ball.

"I'd love to open the batting," he said. "That's the best place to bat in one-day cricket because you get a bit of a license with the powerplays.

"But if they say to me you're keeping and batting five and six, I'll be happy with that."

One suspects there is no shortage of bowlers who share the same thoughts.