Gloucestershire CCC | Match Preview - 11/06/2023

After eight games of the Vitality Blast group stage, it’s a return to red-ball action for Leicestershire, as the squad travel south to face Gloucestershire.

The Foxes sit one place above this week’s hosts in the Division Two table, with both looking to bounce back from their previous red-ball outings “ Leicestershire losing a thriller at Worcestershire, while Gloucestershire were defeated by Durham.

Callum Parkinson returns to the matchday squad, looking for his first County Championship appearance of the summer following an early-season side strain.

Last Time We Met:

The Foxes emerged victorious in emphatic fashion during the previous red-ball meeting between the two sides. In the early June sunshine at Uptonsteel County Ground in 2021, Leicestershire won by an innings and 93 runs.

Marcus Harris, now of Gloucestershire, led the way for the Foxes, scoring 148 as the side reached 451 in what eventuated as their only innings of the match. Colin Ackermann and Lewis Hill hit half-centuries.

Leicestershire then took 20 wickets, with Callum Parkinson taking five in each innings. Ackermann completed a fine all-round performance with six wickets, while Chris Wright claimed the remaining four.

Fox to Watch:

Callum Parkinson’s reintroduction to the four-day side will be a huge boost to Leicestershire’s chances of victory.

As previously mentioned, he took ten-fer in the last meeting between the two, during a season which saw the spinner take 50 wickets in the County Championship, the most of any English spinner.

With gametime now under his belt, the Bolton-born bowler could be the key to turning fortunes into the Foxes’ favour.

Opposition Player to Watch:

On the subject of slow left-armers, Gloucestershire’s Zafar Gohar has caught the eye. With 261 first-class wickets at an average of 30.46, his stats back up his ability.

The Pakistan international first arrived in Bristol during the 2021 season, stunning Durham by taking 11 wickets during a seven-wicket victory in the final round of fixtures.

After taking 47 wickets at 28.4 in Division One last year, Zafar has claimed a further 12 so far this summer “ albeit at a more costly average of 51.16.

Squad:

There are four changes to our last red-ball squad. Callum Parkinson, Matt Salisbury, Ed Barnes and Louis Kimber are all fit again to enter the 13-strong travelling party, but Wiaan Mulder, Roman Walker and Will Davis all miss out through injury “ while Josh Davey has returned to Somerset.

Leicestershire: Ackermann, Ahmed, Barnes, Budinger, Handscomb, Hill*, Hull, Kimber, Parkinson, Patel, Salisbury, Scriven, Wright.