Foxes to take on Sri Lanka
Thu 12 May 2016
Opportunity knocks for Leicestershire players during the three-day game against Sri Lanka which starts at the Fischer County Ground tomorrow (11am start).
Angus Robson is captain of the team for the first time and Aadil Ali is also in the side, but there are nine changes from the Northants game to allow some players the opportunity to stake their claim for a first team place and others to rest after a busy start to the season.
It shows Leicestershire’s strength in depth when you consider that all nine incoming players made regular appearances for the club last season.
Ned Eckersley makes a welcome return from a finger injury while Michael Burgess and Lewis Hill also come into Leicestershire’s top order.
All-rounders Tom Wells and Rob Taylor make their first starts of the campaign and all three of County’s spinners play in Jigar Naik, Rob Sayer and James Sykes.
Atif Sheikh, who has bowled extremely well in the tourist games against India and New Zealand in recent seasons, also gets his chance to impress.
There is a fantastic opportunity for De Montfort University’s Jack Morton, who is twelfth man for the match as part of our unique partnership.
The only two injury concerns for Leicestershire at the moment are Zak Chappell and Ollie Freckingham, who are ruled out of the Sri Lanka match.
Elite Performance Director Andrew McDonald said: “It’s a first-class fixture in every sense, and a good performance against an international side preparing for a Test will be noted. Every coach wants competition for places across the board, and that’s what we’re moving towards.”
Sri Lanka has named a 17-man squad for their tour of England but Dhammika Prasad will miss out after picking up an injury against Essex earlier this week. It is the team’s final match before the test series against England, so it is vital preparation for Sri Lanka.
Leicestershire: Robson (captain), Hill, Ali, Eckersley (w/k), Burgess, Wells, Taylor, Sayer, Sykes, Naik, Sheikh, Morton.
Sri Lanka touring squad: Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya Silva, Dasun Shanaka, Dhammika Prasad, Dilruwan Perera, Dimuth Karunaratne, Dinesh Chandimal, Dushmantha Chameera, Kaushal Silva, Kusal Mendis, Lahiru Thirimanne, Milinda Siriwardana, Niroshan Dickwella, Nuwan Pradeep, Rangana Herath, Shaminda Eranga, Suranga Lakmal.
* There’s a very special offer for families as a pass for the entire match costs just £30! That means that two adults and three children under 16 can come into the FCG each day for just £2 each. To claim the deal, please call 0116 283 2128.
