Cosgrove ready for final challenge

Leicestershire CCC captain Mark Cosgrove said that his team took a lot out of the recent LV=CC game against Essex despite coming out on the wrong end of the result.

Large chunks of the contest were lost to rain but Cosgrove and counterpart James Foster risked losing draw points to set up an entertaining final afternoon.

Cosgrove said: "It was a good game. Losing two days to rain meant that we had to make a game of it and play for something. We put 16 points up on the board to play for and unfortunately we weren't quite good enough to win the game.

"We could have sat there and played for bonus points but that would have just been boring cricket for everyone. We got a lot out of the game despite coming out on the wrong end of the result.

"It's not ideal when you're without two senior bowlers just five overs into a run chase - and Ben Raine was also struggling later on - so we were lacking three bowlers who have taken 50 wickets. But the lads gave it their best shot.

"The boys fought hard and put in a good showing for the team. It was a good challenge for us. We want to be in those situations next season - 300 ahead, driving a game and trying to knock a team over in 50-60 overs. We'll definitely be on the right side of those results more often than not next year.”

Leicestershire’s skipper now wants the team to end the season on a high at the 3aaa County Ground, with County looking to complete a double against their East Midlands rivals.

Cosgrove said: "In the last six weeks we've played some really good cricket. We want another good game this week at Derbyshire to ensure that we take momentum into next season.

“We are a really tight group here and there are some exciting times ahead. The longer we play together, the better we will become.  We've had some new signings and we want to push on ready for next year now."

Leicestershire will be without three key bowlers for the short trip up the M1 as Clint McKay has returned to Australia, Wayne White is ineligible after signing from Derbyshire and Charlie Shreck was injured during the second innings against Essex.

Raine is available after suffering with cramp in the last match and the all-rounder is joined in a 13-man squad by Ollie Freckingham and Zak Chappell. Although White is unable to play, he will help to conduct twelfth man duties throughout the match.

Leicestershire (from): Cosgrove (c), Ali, Chappell, Eckersley, Freckingham, Hill, O'Brien, Raine, Redfern, Robson, Sayer, Taylor, White.