Stephen Parry leaves Lancashire after 16 years

Parry has taken on a coaching role with Thunder, the women’s regional hub connected to Lancashire, where he will work with head coach Paul Shaw and a group of spinners that includes Sophie Ecclestone and Alex Hartley

Former England spinner Stephen Parry has left Lancashire after 16 years with the county.

Parry’s contract expired at the end of the 2020 season, having first joined the club’s academy setup in 2004. He made his first team debut three later and went on to make 231 appearances across all formats.

It was in T20 cricket where he made his name, however; he remains Lancashire’s all-time leading wicket-taker in the format with 117, taking his final wicket for the club in an eight-wicket win over Derbyshire in last season’s T20 Blast.

His white-ball skills briefly earned him England recognition in both 20-over and ODI formats, before representing Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash in 2014/15.

In the subsequent season, he played a key role as Lancashire won the Blast in 2015, taking 25 wickets across the competition.

The 2020 campaign represented Parry’s testimonial year at Lancashire, which the county has agreed to extend and support into 2021 due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on fundraising efforts.

Parry said: “It has been an honour to represent this great club for such a long period of time. I am truly grateful to everybody at Emirates Old Trafford for their support since I very first walked through the doors. I started representing Lancashire at U10 level so to graduate through the academy and play for the Red Rose for 16 years has been a dream come true.

^{Parry represented England on seven occasions}

“I feel extremely lucky to have not only represented my boyhood to county but to have also tested myself on the international stage, which would not have been possible without the platform given to me by Lancashire.

“I am sad to be leaving behind a great dressing room – many who are now friends for life – and I wish nothing but the best for the club as they move forward with an exciting, young squad.”

Parry has taken on a coaching role with Thunder, the women’s regional hub connected to Lancashire, where he will work with head coach Paul Shaw and a group of spinners that includes Sophie Ecclestone and Alex Hartley.

Lancashire director of cricket Paul Allott added: “Stephen has served Lancashire Cricket with distinction over the last decade and more and I would like to thank him for his contributions.

“His work ethic and love for the club consistently shone through and he has been part of some huge moments, none more so than the 2015 Blast win.

“I speak for everybody at Emirates Old Trafford in wishing Stephen all the best in his future endeavours.”

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