GRAHAM HARDCASTLE has been covering Lancashire's fortunes since 2005 when they won promotion back to the top tier of the County Championship. Having come straight out of Edge Hill University, where he gained a Journalism degree, he provided assistance for Colin Evans and Andy Wilson at the Manchester Evening News. Working for the Bolton News, the Press Association, Lancashire's club website and a number of national newspapers, he has witnessed a couple of near misses in the Championship, most notably in 2007 when the Red Rose nearly chased down 489 against Surrey on the final day at the Oval. Graham has also dipped into cricket over the other side of the Pennines, covering Yorkshire's fortunes since 2008, while he has also reported on Football (from Non-league to Premier League) and Tennis during the winter months. His own playing career was limited to second-team appearances for Bolton League side Bradshaw and first-team appearances for Brinscall in the lower reaches of the Ribblesdale League. He also captained Edge Hill very badly. As a teenager CHRIS OSTICK spent most of his summer days at Old Trafford watching the likes of Paul Allott, Wasim Akram and Neil Fairbrother trying to win the County Championship. And with a careers day looming at school, the sports-mad youngster thought getting paid to watch cricket wasn't a bad way to earn a living. Twenty years on, he is doing just that as cricket correspondent and assistant sports editor at the Manchester Evening News. After graduating with a degree in Communication Studies at Coventry University, he began his journalism career at the Altrincham Post and Buxton Advertiser before becoming sports editor at the Sale and Altrincham Messenger. Two years later he joined the Derby Evening Telegraph where he covered Derby County before moving back home to Manchester in 2000 to take up a role on the Evening News sports desk. He became assistant sports editor in 2004 and has covered Lancashire since 2006.
