Fazakerley earns Championship call-up

A series of impressive performances in the Second XI has seen teenage all-rounder Will Fazakerley earn a place in Leicestershire’s squad to take on Sussex in the Specsavers County Championship match which starts at the Fischer County Ground tomorrow (11am start).

The 18-year-old has contributed with both bat and ball, scoring his first century and taking a maiden five-wicket haul in recent matches against MCC Young Cricketers (Trophy) and Yorkshire (Championship). 

Fellow all-rounders Ben Raine and Tom Wells are also included in a 13-man squad as the Foxes look to record a first win after solid draws in their last three fixtures.

Leicestershire's batsmen have been in particularly good form with Ned Eckersley (475 runs at 59.37), Mark Cosgrove (394 at 56.28) and Colin Ackermann (278 at 69.50) all reaching three figures at Derby.

Head Coach Pierre de Bruyn is encouraged by his team's progress and wants the team to build on the positives taken from the recent performances against Glamorgan, Kent and Derbyshire.

He said: “In red ball cricket we know we had a slow start but we’ve bounced back beautifully, especially from a batting point of view, scoring over 400 twice here the Fischer County Ground and then over 600 at Derby. That’s good, solid cricket.

“After five games we have six batsmen averaging over 40, of whom four are averaging above 55, and those are the standards we want to set. 

“It’s a strong division: we have an opener in Harry Dearden just turned 20, in his first season in the first team, and he’s faced probably ten international bowlers, which is fantastic experience for him.

“But I still feel it’s a division in which every team is capable of beating any other. Yes, we’re one of three teams still looking for a win - and we know we need to win extra games to make up for the 16-point deduction at the start of the season - but I believe we have the ability to take 20 wickets. 

“We have ball speed up front with Zak Chappell and Dieter Klein, who are fresh and hungry, and we have the experience and know-how of Clint McKay and now Ben Raine again. 

“We do need to be smart in addressing how we are going to get batsmen out on flat wickets, but we feel we’re in a good place with the balance of the side and the roles individuals are playing.”

In other squad news, seamer Gavin Griffiths joins Raine, Fazakerley and Wells in pushing for a start after missing the game against Derbyshire.

Paceman Richard Jones and wicket-keeper Lewis Hill miss out through injury while all-rounder Neil Dexter will be unavailable for selection for the foreseeable future. He is taking some time away from cricket due to personal reasons.

Sussex will again be led by experienced opening batsman Chris Nash, who recently took over the reins from Luke Wright. 

International Vernon Philander is available for the final time before joining up with South Africa ahead of the England test series but fellow experienced seamer Steve Magoffin joins a lengthy injury list that includes wicket-keeper Ben Brown, middle order batsmen Laurie Evans and Matt Machan and all-rounder Ollie Robinson.

There will be at least one change to the Sussex side with Magoffin sidelined. All-rounder Delroy Rawlins, left arm seamer George Garton and slow left arm spinner Danny Briggs are included in the visitors’ 13-man squad. 

Michael Burgess, one of three players on the Sussex staff with Foxes connections along with Wright and Magoffin, will continue behind the stumps in Brown’s absence.

On the theme of familiar faces returning to the Fischer County Ground, the club will host its Former Player Day on Sunday, the third day of the match. We hope our former players and their guests enjoy the day with us.

Leicestershire (from): Cosgrove (capt), Ackermann, Chappell, Dearden, Eckersley (wk), Fazakerley, Griffiths, Horton, Klein, McKay, Pettini, Raine, T.Wells.

Sussex (from): Nash (capt), Archer, Briggs, Burgess (wk), Finch, Garton, Jordan, Philander, Rawlins, van Zyl, L.Wells, Wiese, Wright.