McDonald delighted with contract renewals

Head Coach Andrew McDonald was thrilled to see Clint McKay, Angus Robson, James Sykes and Rob Sayer commit their futures to Leicestershire County Cricket Club.

The 32-year-old McKay has been an inspirational overseas player while Robson, who was the only Leicestershire player to score 1,000 first-class runs in 2014, has again led the way in red ball cricket this summer with 826 runs at 34.41.

Huntingdon-born spinners Sykes and Sayer, who both came through the Academy system at Grace Road, have also impressed when given their opportunity in the first team.

McDonald recently signed a two-year extension to his contract as Head Coach and McKay, Robson and Sykes have followed his lead while off-spinner Sayer will be at Grace Road until at least the end of the 2018 season.

McDonald said: “These four guys are going to help to form the core of Leicestershire County Cricket Club going forward and that’s really important to us. We already have a nice blend of youth and experience and we’re also going to add to the nucleus of players that we have.

“We want players who want to be here and contribute to Leicestershire County Cricket Club. It’s about building the club around good people and you’ll see no finer four people than those who have just signed new contracts. It’s great news for the club.

“It’s that time of the year where we are assessing where we are at as a club. We’re looking at who can take the club forward and how we move forward. That’s what we’re continually asking ourselves as a High Performance Staff and we believe that we’re on the right track.”

The influence of McKay on the field has been huge, with the seamer set to reach the 50-wicket mark in the Championship having also shone in white ball cricket with his nagging accuracy and clever variations. The Victorian has also been an important part of the dressing room with the younger players tapping into his vast experience.

McKay said: “It’s been great to work with bowlers like Ben Raine and Ollie Freckingham and all of the younger players. They have been great around the group and it’s always nice to pass on your experience and knowledge to help them become better players.

“This year has been fantastic and I couldn’t have asked for any more. The club has looked after me and made me feel welcome. It’s a great place to be and will be in the future, so I’m looking forward to continuing to make strides forward.

“We are playing a lot better cricket and although the results haven’t gone our way, if we can click everything together with bat and ball at the same time, and win the key moments in games, then they will turn.

“Every time we walk out, we expect to win, and although it hasn’t quite gone to plan in terms of results, there are lots of games to go. We have five LV=County Championship games and a whole new tournament in the Royal London One-Day Cup, so we’re hoping to be successful at the back end of the season. That will also help us to prepare for next season.”