LANCASHIRE could start the 2015 season without an overseas bowler after Ashley Giles revealed he was impressed with the youngsters coming through the ranks at Old Trafford.

The Red Rose’s new cricket director and head coach may give domestic talent the opportunity to shine rather than recruiting an overseas bowler or all-rounder.

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Giles has already strengthened the seam bowling ranks with the additions of Nathan Buck and George Edwards, while the likes of Tom Bailey, Glen Chapple, Gavin Griffiths, Kyle Jarvis and Saqib Mahmood are all available for selection.

The former England one-day coach is confident that the Red Rose can challenge for promotion and an immediate return to the County Championship’s top division with the squad available to him, as well as challenge for silverware in limited-overs competitions.

“We’ve been talking about a bowling option,” said Giles. “But from what we’re seeing now, we’ve got a good crop of young bowlers, with some experience if Chappie plays a bit.

“We’ve got Jarvis back now, with Bailey, Griffiths and Buck and Edwards coming in. We’ve also got Tom Smith and Luke Procter.

“At the moment, if the right candidate comes on the market, then we might still strike. For now, we’re holding on that front.

“I’m not going to get someone who will just block a position when one of these guys can do equally as good a job.”

Giles is keen to give the club’s crop of youngsters a chance to impresses when competitive action gets under way.

He also believes that Chapple, who turns 41 later this month, can fulfil the role an overseas players might if he can get out on the pitch: “A lot depends on whether Chappie stays fit. If he starts and does, then he almost plays as your overseas, although I know he’s not,” he said.“He’s a high-quality, experienced bowler, and it gives you a chance to blood some of the younger guys. If you don’t, then you just shut them down.”

One of Lancashire’s new recruits, Nathan Buck, is spending only his second pre-season in the cold English winter, having been due to play in Manly for the second off-season in a row until he joined the Red Rose from Leicestershire.

“I’ve only done one at Leicester, which was two years ago,” said the 23-year-old. “I’ve normally been on tours — ECB camps, Lions tours and under-19 tours. Last year I went to play grade cricket for Manly in Sydney.

“Didsbury’s nice, don’t get me wrong, but it’s not got the weather and the beach. Still, it is nice to come here and spend a good five months with the lads, getting to know them before we get out on the pitch.

“I will still get the bowling in and get the batting done. It’s quite good to look at your game and say ‘this is what I need to work on’. We can do that here indoors for as many hours of the day as we feel like.“There’s no game practice, but it’s still good.

“I will hopefully look to go away again in pre-seasons to come because I did benefit from playing at Manly, but the body needs a rest. It’s a long year, and I want to be fresh for the season coming up.”