Eckersley ready for 50-over challenge

Ned Eckersley has demonstrated his versatility and consistency in red ball cricket so far in the 2017 season, two traits that Leicestershire Foxes require on the whole in starting their Royal London One-Day Cup campaign.

The 27-year-old has already batted in four different positions in first-class cricket, has kept wicket in three matches, and led the side in the absence of Mark Cosgrove in the recent Specsavers County Championship draw against Glamorgan.

Eckersley will now captain the team against Lancashire Lightning as the 50-over campaign gets underway at Emirates Old Trafford tomorrow (2pm start) with Clint McKay ruled out through injury.

Wherever asked to bat, Eckersley has produced the goods. He top-scored in the first innings against Loughborough MCCU, achieved the same feat in posting two scores in the 80s at Gloucestershire before making an important 73 in the second innings versus Glamorgan.

Eckersley was pleased with the team’s performance against the Welsh County and said that everyone is relishing the start of the Royal London One-Day Cup competition, which opens in Manchester before home games against Worcestershire Rapids on Sunday (11am start) and Warwickshire on Tuesday (2pm start).

“I was immensely proud of the way the lads went about the game against Glamorgan,” said Eckersley. “We’ve then had a few days to prepare for the change in format, including the Second XI game against Lancashire at Hinckley on Wednesday. That gave people the chance to put their names in the hat for a game on Friday.

“We have some great one-day players; some ball speed and people who can take the pace off in the bowling attack and explosion with the batting. 

“Cameron (Delport) did really well in the Second XI, striking the ball nicely at Northants, and Swampy (Mark Pettini) is a fantastic one-day player who is hitting the ball well too.

“Everyone is excited for the first game at Lancashire, it will be nice to change the format and have a go at the white ball competition. We have high hopes of going a long way. That is the plan, starting with tomorrow under the lights at Old Trafford.” 

Foxes Head Coach Pierre de Bruyn is also excited to play in a different format and wants to see an improvement in the club’s 50-over fortunes.

de Bruyn said: “It’s been a format where we have been below par over the last few years and we want to use this competition to create a brand of cricket that we want to play. There will be some opportunities for younger players but we have got to be a lot more competitive in 50-over cricket.

“It don’t see any easy games in the fixture list - every game is going to be tough - but we beat Lancashire at home last season. When you look at the options within the whole squad and the permutations that we have in terms of selection, we can compete with good sides.

“Cameron’s first game in the Second team at Northants saw him get a score of 157 and he is capable of taking the game away from the opposition. The combination between Cameron and Mark (Pettini) at the top of the order is a really good one, as they showed at Northants.”

The Foxes have named a 14-man squad for the trip to Emirates Old Trafford. As well as being without McKay, Ben Raine, Colin Ackermann, James Burke and Richard Jones miss out through injury.

Gavin Griffiths is in line to face his former county after recovering from injury while Leicestershire have named three spinners in their squad, Rob Sayer, James Sykes and Callum Parkinson, the twin brother of Lancashire leg-spinner Matt. Although disappointed to miss out on playing on this occasion, McKay will travel with the squad.

“Clint brings a lot of experience to the table,” said de Bruyn. “What I like about him is the fact that he is very proactive and has been thinking about possible situations within the match. He is a good influence on the other players.

“We have plenty of bowling options including three good spinners here in Rob Sayer, James Sykes and Callum Parkinson, and I believe that spin will play a big role in this tournament.”

Lancashire will be without captain Steven Croft (thumb) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (thigh). Croft’s absence will be something of a novelty for the Red Rose. He has not missed a competitive one-day match since the 2006 C&G Trophy final.

England’s Jimmy Anderson is available, however. The seamer can play the first three Royal London One-Day matches, including Monday’s Roses clash at Headingley.

Leicestershire then have back-to-back home games to look forward to after the floodlit fixture at Emirates Old Trafford, with under 16s able to enjoy the Worcestershire match for free on Sunday as part of the club's family initiatives.

Foxes (from): Eckersley (capt), Ali, Chappell, Cosgrove, Delport, Dexter, Griffiths, Hill, Klein, Parkinson, Pettini, Sayer, Sykes, Wells.