Match Preview | County Championship | Lancashire | 18-21 April 2025

Top of the table after two matches, Leicestershire head north to Manchester to take on promotion favourites Lancashire at Emirates Old Trafford, starting on Friday.

Alfonso Thomas’ side took maximum bonus points from last week’s draw with Derbyshire to retain their spot at the summit of Division Two. There were contributions across the order, with Logan van Beek’s debut arguably the standout display.

Lancashire sit fourth after successive draws and will be boosted by the return of England international Saqib Mahmood for this weekend’s clash.

Squad:

Alex Green is added to last week’s squad to complete the 14-strong travelling party. After taking 3/60 for the Seconds on Tuesday, he’ll join Liam Trevaskis and Roman Walker in pushing for a place in the final XI.

Leicestershire: Ahmed, Budinger, Cox+, A Green, B Green, Handscomb*, Hill, Holland, Kimber, Mike, Scriven, Trevaskis, van Beek, Walker.

Last Time We Met:

The teams last faced off in first-class cricket five years ago via the Covid-improvised Bob Willis Trophy. It was a fixture to remember for the Foxes, who took victory at New Road (the neutral host venue for the match) by seven wickets.

After a sensational 172 on debut from loanee Ben Slater helped give Leicestershire an 87-run lead after first innings, Ben Mike (4/39) and Callum Parkinson (3/30) set up a late victory push.

A chase of 150 was completed within 16 overs, with Colin Ackermann blitzing an unbeaten 73 from just 41 balls, while Harry Dearden’s 33 (18b) also proved a vital cameo.

Fox to Watch:

After being forced to watch much of the red-ball summer from the sidelines last season, Sol Budinger has wasted little time in making his mark at the start of the 2025 campaign.

The left-handed opener currently sits eighth in the Division Two run-scoring charts with 213 at an average of 71. Typically, they’ve come in quick time too, with a strike rate touching 80.

His previous five knocks have yielded returns of 87, 56, 32*, 81, and 44. With scores like that, an elusive maiden first-class century doesn’t feel far away.

Opposition Player to Watch:

How often do players come back to haunt their former counties? Leicestershire will certainly be hoping two-time Fox Marcus Harris doesn’t this week.

The Australian spent periods at Uptonsteel County Ground in both 2021 and 2024, scoring 1,043 first-class runs at an average just under 50.

Now, in his new home at Emirates Old Trafford, and his new spot at number four, he’s making an impact on Division Two again. The left-hander is second in the division’s scoring charts, one run off Max Holden, having registered 213 runs at 70.75.

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