"Fantastic Start" | Pete Praises Team Performance In Glamorgan Win

After leading Leicestershire to a commanding 10-wicket victory in his first game as Club captain, Peter Handscomb looks back on a superb opening to the 2025 campaign for the table-topping Foxes.

“That’s a fantastic way to the start the season,” the 33-year-old says. “It’s obviously the result we wanted but the most pleasing thing was sticking to our processes and our plans, which we executed so well across the three days.

“The hard work the guys have been doing throughout pre-season has come through in the first game, that’s very encouraging.”

Calling ‘heads’ correctly on a green-tinged pitch in Cardiff, Handscomb won his first battle as skipper. Although the Australian international believes the outcome of the toss wasn’t as decisive as it may have appeared.

“It’s nice winning the toss but I wouldn’t say it determined the result. I think the wicket played pretty fair for three days. There was obviously a bit more there on the first day but if it gets into a fourth day it starts to play a few tricks the other way - staying low and starting to turn - so I think the way we played it was very pleasing.”

There were contributions throughout the Leicestershire side. With the bat, Lewis Hill made a superb 96, while Sol Budinger, Handscomb himself, Ben Cox, and the unlikely source of Chris Wright also made half-centuries to help the Foxes assemble a 198-run lead after first innings.

But it was the display of the Leicestershire attack which most impressed Handscomb, spearheaded by all-rounder Ian Holland, who returned incredible match-figures of 36-7-86-7.

“We were finding it hard to find a man of the match,” says the Melbourne-born batter when discussing one of the duties demanded for the team’s victory song. “The beauty was it was such a team performance, both with bat and ball.

“The bowling unit was very impressive; they bowled beautifully in partnerships throughout the game. We shared the wickets around in a different manner. Holland and Green did superbly, Wrighty reeled away on a line and length, Benny Mike was bowling fast, and Scriv and Rehan did excellent jobs too.”

With Netherlands international Logan van Beek to add into the mix for the home opener against Derbyshire this Friday, Handscomb acknowledges there will be further selection headaches for him to ponder alongside Head Coach Alfonso Thomas and the Foxes’ coaching staff.

“One of the pleasing things right now is we’re trying to fit 14 blokes into an XI, and when you’re having that issue it’s a great problem to have.

“There’s going to be some tough calls, but the pleasing thing is we’ve got guys ready and waiting to stand up when their opportunity comes. If we’re going to have a good season, it’s going to take the entire squad.”

A seasoned professional, Handscomb is keen to temper expectations despite the dominant early season showing in Cardiff.

“We’ll try to be competitive, but the focus is on our processes and plans. If we can do that to the best of our ability, the result tends to take care of it itself. We’ll try not to look too far ahead, it’s only one game of a 14-game season, but it’s certainly a great way to start.”

Leicestershire return to Rothesay County Championship action on Friday, where they take on East Midlands counterparts Derbyshire at Uptonsteel County Ground. Get your tickets HERE.