IN-form fast bowler Kyle Jarvis is on course to put himself alongside some notable names of Lancashire cricket after his stunning start to this summer’s LV= County Championship campaign.

The 26-year-old ex-Zimbabwe Test seamer is just three away from 50 wickets for the summer with only eight matches played – exactly half a season.

He is now chasing Wasim Akram’s haul of 81 wickets in a season in 1995, the most by any Red Rose bowler since two-division Championship cricket was introduced in 2000.

More recently, Kyle Hogg and Jimmy Anderson took 60 each in 2013 and 2005, Lancashire’s last two Division Two campaigns prior to this.

Jarvis has taken three five-wicket hauls, including one in the first innings in this week’s win over Gloucestershire at Bristol on the way to his county best match figures of 9-106.

He is certainly on course to overhaul the returns of Hogg and Anderson, and Akram’s 81 is by no means out of reach.

The last Lancashire bowler to take 100 wickets or more in a season was Peter Lee in 1975.

Jarvis’s flurry of wickets have all come after a stuttering start to his career at Emirates Old Trafford, with his first full season last year one to forget due to injury and loss of form.

Ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Leicestershire at Emirates Old Trafford, with each day starting at 12.30pm, Jarvis said: “It’s been great for me (this season).

“I just want to do my bit for Lancs. I’m close to a personal milestone, but there’s still a long way to go in the season. We are exactly halfway now. Hopefully there’s a few more down the line.”

Stand-in captain Steven Croft added: “Kyle’s on fire at the minute, but his opening partner Tom Bailey’s been brilliant as well. They’ve both been bowling well, but Jarv is the one getting the wickets.

“The whole unit has been bowling really well, but credit to Jarv because he’s put a lot of hard work in. He’s getting rewarded.

Lancashire beat Leicestershire at Grace Road last month, and they are bidding for a sixth win in nine matches.

Play will be starting 90 minutes later each day in order to give spectators time to watch some cricket after work, with adults and children charged £5 and £1 after 4pm.

Members can bring a guest free of charge throughout the match.