Match Preview | County Championship | Middlesex | 16-19 May 2025

After a ten-day hiatus from Championship cricket, Leicestershire return to four-day action on Friday with a trip to the illustrious Home of Cricket.

The Foxes are still perched atop of Division Two after their 132-run victory against Northamptonshire last time out, as Alfonso Thomas’ side search for their third away win of the campaign.

Middlesex also tasted victory before their week’s break, beating Kent by two wickets in a nail-biter at Lord’s to rise to third in the table.

Squad:

One change to the squad from the win over Northamptonshire, as Chris Wright makes a welcome return from a knee issue which kept him out of the previous four rounds. The 39-year-old took 4/50 on his comeback for the Second XI earlier this week.

Leicestershire: Ahmed, Budinger, Cox+, B Green, Handscomb*, Hill, Holland, Hull, Patel, Scriven, Trevaskis, van Beek, Wright.

Last Time We Met:

Leicestershire won inside three days when the two sides met last June. Conditions proved incredibly difficult for batting early in the clash, as 21 wickets fell on the opening day at Uptonsteel County Ground.

The Foxes made 179 thanks to contributions of 41 from Lewis Goldsworthy, 36 from skipper Lewis Hill, and 34 not out from Scott Currie, before dismissing Middlesex for just 86. The two Bens starring as Mike (11-3-22-5) and Green (9-2-28-4) ripped through the visiting lineup.

Batting fortunes then seemingly transformed as Leicestershire made 372 in their second dig, led by Green’s career-best 77 and 75 from fellow Somerset loanee Goldsworthy.

Chasing a mammoth 466 for victory, Middlesex were dismissed for 342, as the Foxes took victory by 123 runs. Ben Mike again taking control, claiming 3/88 to add to his first innings five-fer.  

Fox to Watch:

Into his fourth loan spell as a Fox, Ben Green is undoubtedly loving life at Leicestershire, admitting ‘there’s nothing like playing first-class cricket’.

Heading into the penultimate match of his latest seven-game deal, the all-rounder sits fourth in the Division Two wicket-taking charts, having claimed 17 scalps at an average of 17.7.

An ever-present this term, Green picked up five of those wickets last time out, while he second top-scored in both innings, which acts as further evidence that the Somerset loanee is of growing importance to Leicestershire’s operation.

Opposition Player to Watch:

A winter arrival from Surrey, Ben Geddes has made a strong start to life at Lord’s. The 23-year-old has four half-centuries from his opening five games, with a high of 83.

The Epsom-born right-hander is still a junior in four-day cricket, having made just 13 first-class appearances to date, but he does have two centuries in that time. Leicestershire will have to be sharp when he’s at the crease to prevent a third arising this week.

Follow The Action:

Stay tuned to the Club’s social media channels for play-by-play updates and reaction throughout the day, as well as post-day reports via the Club’s official website. Our Match Centre will also be running throughout the fixture, showcasing clips and a live scorecard.