Hill enjoys productive winter

Lewis Hill has been developing all aspects of his game during his first full winter on the staff at Leicestershire County Cricket Club.

Hill has been working hard with Senior Coach Ben Smith on the batting front and has also benefitted from the experience of former Warwickshire wicket-keeper Keith Piper.

Piper kept to high-class bowlers at Edgbaston like Allan Donald and Hill has been picking his brains during the sessions.

He said: “My keeping is still at a development stage as it’s something I have only taken up fairly recently but I am learning a lot every day. I have had some sessions with Keith Piper and I’ve learnt a lot off him already.

“I’ll have one of those sessions a week going into the season and they give me great insight into the technical side of keeping. It is great to learn the methods and techniques from Keith. Everything that Keith says makes sense.

“With keeping being relatively new to me, I am keen to make sure I am using the right methods and techniques. Keith has assured me that I am and given me a few tips to improve my practice. I can refer to his instruction and self-learn a lot more. He is a very good coach.

“I will also keep learning off Niall when he is back from the World Cup and also from Ned (Eckersley) and if they are ever injured or if Niall is away with Ireland, hopefully I’ll get the chance to step up into the first team.”

Hill is now looking to take everything that he has learnt and put into practice as pre-season preparations step up a gear.

The 24-year-old enjoys using the practice facilities at Grace Road and thinks that the winter programme has been a challenging one.

“The new surfaces in the Mike Turner Indoor Cricket Centre make for better quality practice. We have fantastic training facilities here, both indoors and outdoors,” he said. “The new season has come around very quickly and we are due, all being well, to train outside on Monday, March 16.

“Our winter has seen us have two weeks of full-on practice and then a week having a bit of downtime and keeping things ticking over individually. It’s been nice and challenging for me personally and I know the other lads have found it the same.

“I have been able to get fitter and work a lot on my game, which is something I haven’t been able to do in the past as this has been my first full winter on the staff. It’s been nice to analyse all aspects of my game and I’ll take that into the season.

“I loved being at Grace Road last summer. It was my first season on the staff having joined in May and being a professional cricketer is what I have always wanted to do.

“We had a fantastic team ethic in the Second XI and we won a lot of games. On a personal level, I will keep trying my best and look to take my opportunity in the first team if one comes along.”