Our History

A look back at the moments, milestones, and people that shaped Leicestershire Cricket Club.

Modern era and T20 success

Best bowling figures in a T20 Match (CN Ackermann 7 for 18 v Warwickshire)

2019 7th August

Modern era and T20 success

Under the captaincy of MJ Hoggard, Win the T20 Cup for the 3rd time

2011 27th August

Modern era and T20 success

Highest score in a T20 match at Grace Road, J Allenby 110 v Nottinghamshire.

2009 3rd June

Modern era and T20 success

Under the captaincy of JN Snape Win T20 Cup for the 2nd time

2006 12th August

Modern era and T20 success

First (and only) Women's Test match (England v India)

2006 8th August

Modern era and T20 success

HD Ackerman 309* v Glamorgan at Cardiff (Current Highest Score for Leicestershire)

2006 15th July

Modern era and T20 success

Hosted International T20 Tournament

2005 September

Modern era and T20 success

Best bowling figures in a One day match (CM Willoughby 6 for 16 v Somerset)

2005 4th May

Modern era and T20 success

Stuart Broad (Leicestershire's most capped international player)made debut for Leicestershire

2005 27th April

Modern era and T20 success

Under the captaincy of BJ Hodge Win T20 Cup for the 1st time

2004 7th August

Modern era and T20 success

Highest score by a Leicestershire batsman BJ Hodge scores 262 v Durham

2004 28th July

Modern era and T20 success

BJ Hodge 302* v Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge (First triple century and Highest score to this date for Leicestershire)

2003 29th August

Modern era and T20 success

Third One Day International (West Indies v Scotland)

1999 27th May

Modern era and T20 success

Second One Day International (India v Zimbabwe)

1999 19th May

Modern era and T20 success

Under the captaincy of JJ Whitaker County Champions for the 3rd time

1998 19th September

Modern era and T20 success

Benson and Hedges Cup Runners-up

1998 12th July

Modern era and T20 success

Under the captaincy of JJ Whitaker County Champions for the 2nd time

1996 22nd September

Modern era and T20 success

VJ Wells scores 201 v Berkshire (Highest score in a One day match at Grace Road)

1996 25th June

Modern era and T20 success

Worcestershire score 638 for 8 (Highest score at Grace Road)

1996 17th May

Modern era and T20 success

PV Simmons 261 v Northamptonshire at Grace Road (Highest score to this date for Leicestershire)

1994 29th April

Modern era and T20 success

Runners-up of NatWest Trophy

1992 5th September

Limited-overs growth and venue development

Clock Tower in part funded by a bequest from Mrs Cicely Williams added to the Milligan Road scorebox

1987 1987

Limited-overs growth and venue development

Under the captaincy of DI Gower won the Benson & Hedges Cup for the 3rd time

1985 20th July

Limited-overs growth and venue development

First Women's One Day International (England v New Zealand)

1984 30th June

Limited-overs growth and venue development

First One Day Internation (India v Zimbabwe)

1983 11th June

Limited-overs growth and venue development

ICC Trophy Final Hosted (Zimbabwe v Bermuda)

1982 10th July

Limited-overs growth and venue development

First county match at Hinckley Town CC's new ground at Leicester Road

1981 29th July

Limited-overs growth and venue development

Under the captaincy of R Illingworth won the John Player League for the 2nd time

1977 4th September

Limited-overs growth and venue development

Under the captaincy of R Illingworth County Champions for the first time

1975 16th September

Limited-overs growth and venue development

Leicestershire defeat the Australian Touring team (1st FC Win against that team) BF Davison

1975 29th July

Limited-overs growth and venue development

Under the captaincy of R Illingworth won the Benson & Hedges Cup for the second time

1975 19th July

Limited-overs growth and venue development

Under the captaincy of R Illingworth won the John Player League for the first time

1974 1st September

Limited-overs growth and venue development

Under the captaincy of R Illingworth won the Benson & Hedges Cup for the first time

1972 22nd July

Limited-overs growth and venue development

Leicestershire dismiss Glamorgan for 24 (Lowest score in a fc match)

1971 19th August

Post-war cricket and the start of one-day change

R Illingworth England Captain for the First time (Captained England 31 times 1969-1973)

1969 1969

Post-war cricket and the start of one-day change

Best innngs bowling figures achieved at Grace Road (J Cotton 9 for 29)

1967 10th July

Post-war cricket and the start of one-day change

First county championship match on a Sunday (Leicestershire v Northamptonshire) At least 5,000 attended.

1966 29th May

Post-war cricket and the start of one-day change

Best match bowling figures at Grace Road, JB Statham, 15 for 108 (Lancashire)

1964 11th August

Post-war cricket and the start of one-day change

Midland Counties KO Cup Final played (Trial one day competition)

1962 9th May

Post-war cricket and the start of one-day change

Northamptonshire beat Leicestershire in the first county one day competition

1962 9th May

Post-war cricket and the start of one-day change

Australians score 694-6 (Highest score at Grace Road) Highest Individual score at Grace Road by any batman KR Miller 281*(Australians)

1956 8th May

Post-war cricket and the start of one-day change

CT Spencer takes 9 for 63 in Leicestershire's only tied first class match, v Yorkshire at Huddersfield

1954 18th June

Post-war cricket and the start of one-day change

CH Palmer appointed Manager of MCC Touring team in the West Indies

1953 1953

Post-war cricket and the start of one-day change

Under the captaincy of CH Palmer finished 3rd in the county championship (Played 28, Won 10, Lost 7, Drawn 11)

1953 1953

County expansion and record-setting years

Visit of Australian touring team. Attendance on day 1, 16,000, day 2, 11,000 (estimates)

1948 1st May

County expansion and record-setting years

Jack Walsh takes 170 first class wickets in a season (the record)

1948 1948

County expansion and record-setting years

First county game at Kirkby Road, Barwell (Current home of Barwell CC)

1946 19th June

County expansion and record-setting years

Leicestershire return to play a one day match against Notts. Play abandoned due to rain without a ball bowled

1941 23rd August

County expansion and record-setting years

Les Berry scores 2,446 first class runs in a season (the record)

1937 1937

County expansion and record-setting years

First county game in Rutland at Oakham School (Current school ground)

1935 31st August

County expansion and record-setting years

Under the captaincy of AT Sharp, 2nd XI won the Minor Counties Championship (Played 8, Won 6, Lost 1, Drawn 1)

1931 1931

County expansion and record-setting years

WE Astill performs the double (1000 runs & 100 wickets) for the 9th and final time

1930 1930

County expansion and record-setting years

G Geary takes 10 wickets for 18 runs against Glamorgan at Pontypridd (best bowling by a Leicestershire player)

1929 15th August

County expansion and record-setting years

G Geary scores the winning runs to retain the Ashes

1929 5th January

County expansion and record-setting years

G Geary takes the wicket which secures the Ashes

1926 18th August

County expansion and record-setting years

S Coe 252* v Northamptonshire v (Highest score to this date for Leicestershire)

1914 1st June

County expansion and record-setting years

First county game at Fox and Goose Ground, Coalville. (Scotland playing fields)

1913 12th June

County expansion and record-setting years

First county game at Park Road, Loughborough (Current home of Loughborough Town CC)

1913 31st May

County expansion and record-setting years

First county game at Bath Grounds Ashby de la Zouch v Derbyshire (Current home of Ashby Hastings CC)

1912 12th June

County expansion and record-setting years

First county game at Ashby Road, Hinckley v Warwickshire (Ground now bult upon)

1911 19th August

First-class breakthrough

JH King became the first Leicestershire cricketer to play in a home test

1909 14th June

First-class breakthrough

Under the captaincy of CE de Trafford finished 5th in the county championship (Played 22, Won 8, Lost 5, Drawn 9)

1905 1905

First-class breakthrough

AE Knight 229* v Worcestershire (First double century and highest score to this date for Leicestershire)

1903 10th August

First-class breakthrough

Leicestershire score 609-8 v Sussex (Highest score by Leicestershire at Grace Road)

1900 13th July

First-class breakthrough

First county championship match at Grace Road (v Nottinghamshire)

1895 20th May

First-class breakthrough

Best match bowling figures at Grace Road for Leicestershire (A Woodcock 15 for 136 v Nottinghamshire

1894 1st August

First-class breakthrough

First first class match at Grace Road (v Yorkshire)

1894 17th May

First-class breakthrough

Awarded first class status: First First Class Match v Essex at Leyton (Leicestershire Won by 68 runs)

1894 14th May

First-class breakthrough

AD Pougher played for England v South Africa (First test appearance by a Leicestershire player)

1891 1891

First-class breakthrough

1st place in the 2nd class county championship (Played 10, Won 6, Lost 3, Drawn 1)

1891 1891

First-class breakthrough

Leicester Fosse (who became Leicester City FC) play the first two matches of the season at the ground

1891 1891

First-class breakthrough

Leicestershire team beat the Australians

1888 6th July

First-class breakthrough

1st place in the 2nd class county championship (Played 5, Won 4, Lost 1)

1888 1888

Origins and formation

First match: Leicestershire v 22 Colts

1879 14th April

Origins and formation

Leicestershire CCC formed at 20 Friar Lane, Leicester

1879 25th March

Origins and formation

A Leicestershire team played Australians. Match attendance 30,000 over the 3 days

1878 15th July

Origins and formation

A Leicestershire team played at Grace Road for the first time (A Leicestershire XI v 22 Colts)

1878 22nd April

Origins and formation

Leicestershire Cricket Ground Co Ltd purchased 16 acres of land and laid out the Grace Road ground.

1877 1877

Origins and formation

Leicestershire teams playing on Victoria Park. WG Grace played against a Leicestershire team twice (entry suggests he was doing so the whole time.

1872-1877 1872-1877

Origins and formation

Important matches played at the Wharf Street ground, Leicester (on Humberstone Gate)

1825-1860 1825-1860

Origins and formation

First match by a collection of cricketers who described themselves as Leicestershire played against MCC at Burley on the Hill.

1791 25th June