Our MD, Malcolm Cooke, has recently returned from the Lancashire County Cricket Club pre-season tour of Dubai and Bangalore, and to say it had pace is an understatement! Malc has joined the team pre-season a number of times, but this is the first time he’s joined them on the extended stage of the tour in India. In fact, he’s the first commercial partner ever to join the team on this stage of the tour!
The tour included both the men’s and women’s teams and was graced by Club President Dame Sarah Storey, who, with 30 medals, is the most decorated British Paralympian of all time. Dame Sarah was great company throughout the whole trip; very down to earth and generous in sharing her insight into elite level performance. However, as well as being a great ambassador for the club, she is actively contributing to the development of the women’s team by providing high-performance mindset coaching for the players.
In Dubai, there was a thrilling T20 double-header at the Sevens Stadium with fixtures for both the men’s and women’s teams. But away from the crease, for Malc, one of the biggest highlights of the Dubai leg of the tour, was partnering England and Lancs legend Warren Hegg at the prestigious Els Golf Club, against Luke Wood (Lancs/England/IPL) and Josh Bohannon (Lancs). Full disclosure here from Malc – Warren kept them in the game for most of it, but Mr C came good with a putt for a half on the 17th and a putt to clinch it on the 18th! It’s all about teamwork!
Prior to leaving Dubai, Malc had reconnected with Lancs skipper Keaton Jennings, who shared some sound and much appreciated advice, regarding dietary choices. Advice, which by the sound of it, was seemingly drawn from hard-won experience.
From Dubai to Bengaluru: Lessons in Cricket and Commerce
So, on to India, where the cricketing action continued with two Lancashire Thunder T20 fixtures at the KSCA Alur Stadium, while a well-attended networking event at the Conrad Bangalore underlined the growing commercial links between Manchester and the subcontinent.
The event in Bengaluru saw presentations from amongst others, Visit Britain, Marketing Manchester and MIDAS, promoting the Manchester city-region to Indian travel, trade and businesses. Somewhat unsurprisingly, with cricket serving as a unifying force, the appetite for collaboration was evident, both on and off the pitch.
Malc also had the pleasure of being taken to lunch by Sachin Bajaj – an incredibly well-connected name and character within the worlds of cricket and Indian business. A real ‘Mr Fixer’!
Reflecting on the experience, Malc says: “What a thoroughly enjoyable trip and what a privilege it was to be part of the whole Lancs pre-season tour. Not only for the quality of cricket, the golf(!) and the camaraderie but also for the commercial opportunities it presented. I’ve come away with masses of ideas to explore and connections to follow up with. But it was also wonderful to reconnect with friends and colleagues at Lancs. Special thanks go to Daniel, Liz, Angela, Becky, and Warren at Lancs, firstly for the invite and their wonderful company, but also for putting on such an outstanding tour! It was faultless down to the last detail!”
And with the new domestic season just days away, attention now shifts back to Emirates Old Trafford, where Lancs will be looking to build on their pre-season momentum, and we’re looking forward to exceptional cricket with clients at both at County and Test level!
