We had confidence in two or three of the younger guys, and I think the right decision was made Mark Chilton

Captain Mark Chilton says he has no regrets about Lancashire's decision to employ only one overseas player for much of the 2006 season.

Lancashire maximised their quota of two overseas players for just the last three games of the campaign.

They were pipped for the County Championship title by Sussex, who rotated three top-class Pakistanis.

Chilton said: "We made the decision at the start of the season to give some of the home-grown players a chance."

The 29-year-old batsman said: "We could have brought another overseas player early on - but we decided to go with what we had.

"When the quality of overseas player you want becomes available you have to consider whether they will be holding up someone breaking into the team.

"It is always a delicate balancing act - trying to perform in as many competitions as you can and bringing the younger players through by giving them a chance.

"They can be difficult decisions. But we had confidence in two or three of the younger guys, and I think the right decision was made. I've got no regrets."

Tom Smith, a 20-year-old seamer, marked his debut season with 35 championship wickets - playing in 15 of Lancashire's 16 matches.

All-rounder Kyle Hogg, batsman Paul Horton and leg-spinner Simon Marshall were given the chance to impress at senior level, albeit mostly in the one-day arena.

"We can definitely take a lot of credit for the way that guys have come in and continued to perform," added Chilton.

"In our last one-day game against Glamorgan, for example, we had Tom, Kyle, Paul and Simon playing - none of whom has a lot of experience.

"They have brought their own personalities to the team and a lot of enthusiasm."

Sussex, who have always had a much smaller squad, had the high-class bowling of Mushtaq Ahmed and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan.