Cosgrove ready for RLODC return

Leicestershire Foxes will be looking to put the disappointment of their NatWest T20 Blast exit behind them when turning their attention to Royal London One-Day Cup action this week, starting with the visit of Yorkshire Vikings tomorrow (11am).

The Foxes endured a tough campaign in the shortest form of cricket in 2016, eventually being eliminated from T20 competition with a 28-run defeat by Birmingham Bears at Edgbaston last Sunday.

They have, however, put in some impressive displays in the first-class arena this season, including this week’s brilliant win at Gloucestershire, and can still make the knockout stages of the 50-over competition despite losing two games and seeing two others abandoned.

Sunday’s fixture against a strong Vikings outfit is a family fun day with a Superhero theme, and a good crowd is anticipated with lots of activities in place for children.

It the first of a RLODC triple-header at the FCG, with Lancashire Lightning (Tuesday, July 26) and Notts Outlaws (Sunday, July 31) also making trips to Leicester in quick succession.

Big-hitting batsman Mark Cosgrove, who played so well at Cheltenham yesterday, believes that the prize of a Lord’s final, combined with a fresh and eager squad, leaves the Foxes well-placed to still make an impact in the RLODC.

He said: “It’s a period where games and different competitions are going to come really thick and fast now, so we’ll need to be able to adapt.

“We recently had a week of T20 and then we switch quickly from the Championship back to the 50-over competition, although we’ve got an extra day to prepare after winning at Cheltenham. We’re all fit and fresh and ready to run at the second half of the season.

“We have three home games and it’s teams and players we’ve come up against in Yorkshire, Lancashire and Nottinghamshire. We need a big push towards three wins as we’d love to get into the knockout stages – a Lord’s final is a massive incentive.”

County have already met the Vikings in white ball cricket this season, picking up a fine 54-run victory at Headingley in May, though they know they will have to be at their best to complete a limited-overs double.

The White Rose county possess talented overseas player Travis Head while England all-rounders David Willey and Adil Rashid are available. Liam Plunkett and Tim Bresnan, fellow all-rounders with plenty of international experience, are also in a 14-man squad.

Cosgrove points to the particular importance of putting runs on the board as the team looks to record their first victory in the RLODC.

With the likes of skipper Mark Pettini, Cameron Delport and Cosgrove himself producing some strong batting displays in recent T20 appearances, Kevin O’Brien shining in the first two RLODC fixtures, and the team’s batting performances against the red ball in general, County fans can be optimistic ahead of Sunday’s game.

Cosgrove added: “The goalposts have moved in 50-over cricket, a good score isn’t 270 anymore, it’s probably over 300.

“We batted well in the first game here against Durham and got over 300 but it wasn’t quite enough. We’ve batted well in all competitions so we’re looking to continue that and make it count.

“Having four men outside the circle changes the game, you can’t protect everywhere and it’s a big boost for batters.

“Coming in from the back end of T20, some players are in really good nick and may push harder, so you never quite know what you will find.”

The Foxes welcome back Kevin O’Brien to a 14-man squad for the visit of the Vikings after the all-rounder made his 100^th ODI appearance for Ireland against Afghanistan during the week.

Delport is also available while Lewis Hill, Rob Taylor, Aadil Ali and Rob Sayer join eight of the team that won at Gloucestershire in the Specsavers County Championship this week.

Foxes (from): Pettini (capt), Dexter, Robson, K O’Brien, Delport, Cosgrove, Horton, Hill, N O’Brien, Ali, Taylor, Raine, McKay, Sayer.

Vikings (from): Lees (capt), Bresnan, Carver, Coad, Head, Hodd, Leaning, Lyth, Patterson, Plunkett, Rafiq, Rashid, Rhodes, Willey.