LANCASHIRE’S new signing Adrian Shankar is looking forward to researching some treasured family history when the county play at Aigburth this summer.

The 23-year-old Cambridge graduate’s father, Sambasivan Shankar, was a member of Liverpool CC about 40 years ago and he has passed on his fondness for Merseyside to his son.

“My father was a keen cricketer who turned out a little bit for the club, but he was mainly a tennis player,” explained Shankar, who signed a two-year contract at Old Trafford last November.

“I think his name will be on the honours boards as a tennis champion. He was studying at Liverpool University at the time.”

Despite being a former member of the Arsenal Academy, the younger Shankar’s sporting ambitions are now centred exclusively on making the grade at Old Trafford and he’s hoping that playing for Neston in the Cheshire County League will help him achieve his goal.

“The opportunity’s there for me to dedicate myself and work on my game as much as I want to,” he said. “I’ve spent the winter working with the coaches and I’m in as good shape as I can be. Peter Moores’s appointment as coach has meant that a fresh set of experienced eyes is now looking at my game and I’ve had the chance to work with him on a few specific areas.

“I’ve now got to get my game in order and make sure I’m playing well enough to be selected for the first team. The captain and coach will pick the eleven guys who are going to win for Lancashire and it’s my job to take my chance when it comes along.”