Ashley Giles admits he is concerned by Lancashire’s stuttering end to their season.
Lancashire have been outplayed in the two LV= County Championship games since their NatWest T20 Blast victory at Edgbaston .
At Kent last week and in this week’s top-of-the-table clash with Surrey at Emirates Old Trafford they have been second best and only a rearguard batting display on the final day of both games has seen them avoid defeat.
They now head to Chelmsford on Tuesday to face Essex in their final match of the season trailing Surrey by eight points in the title race.
And having lead the league for most of the campaign, failing to claim the trophy would be a major blow for head coach Giles – despite the main objective of promotion already secured.
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“It is concerning because this is only a step, this isn’t job done,” said Giles. “We have won the T20, we have won promotion but we can’t relax and slap ourselves on the back and say ‘aren’t we brilliant’.
“This is just a step in us improving and becoming the best team in the country. That is where we have to be aiming.
“Every match we play, the players have to be up for it.
“The best teams win things, and drive on to win the next thing.
“I didn’t think we were that good against Surrey.
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“If we want to compete in Division One next season, we can’t have games like this. We will lose them.
“Ultimately, this is what we are paid to do – to play 16 games. So we play them, and play them hard.
“There are people fighting for their place in the side next year. People get opportunities, but they have to be good enough for to take those opportunities too.
“If they are not, we will have to get someone else. It’s simple.”
Giles, however, has been delighted with the performance of Haseeb Hameed .
The 18-year-old batted almost all day for 91 to help save the game against Surrey and take the title race into the final week of the season.
It was only the opener’s third game since replacing the departing Paul Horton in the side, but Giles says he already looks the part.
“His temperament is extraordinary for someone of his years,” said Giles. “These last two weeks, when the pressure has been on just to bat, he has eaten it up. He just loves it.
“We are lucky to have him. He is going to be a real star. Giving him four games this year will set him up nicely going into next season.”
Haseeb has already been tipped as a future England player, but Giles believes for now he needs to just concentrate on scoring runs for Lancashire.
“He has lots of ability, but we also need to be careful we don’t get carried away,” said Giles of the England under-19 skipper.
“His job now is to get runs for us. If he does that, the other things take care of themselves.
“Perhaps I wasn’t as talented as him, but when I started playing in the county team all I wanted was to get capped and win games for Warwickshire.
“That’s all he needs to concentrate on and, if he does well, we might have to look for someone to replace him at the top of the order.
“But for now, he just has to do his job.”
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