McDonald looking for consistency

Elite Performance Director Andrew McDonald feels that Leicestershire Foxes’ weekend was a microcosm of the NatWest T20 Blast campaign so far.

The Foxes landed a comprehensive nine-wicket win against Derbyshire Falcons on Friday night, where they fired in all three disciplines, before being outplayed at Durham Jets.

Yesterday’s setback means that the Foxes are three points behind a fourth qualifying spot - one that is now occupied by the Jets - with four games to go, so there is little margin for error.

Leicestershire still have hopes of getting to the knockout stages despite a lack of consistency. The fact that the team possesses a positive net run rate despite losing twice as many games as they have won shows how convincing their victories have been.

Two big floodlit games at the Fischer County Ground are now coming up, starting against in-form Notts Outlaws tomorrow evening (6.30pm start), and McDonald wants his side to entertain the crowd.

“From our point of view, in terms of white ball cricket, it’s been an inconsistent campaign and it is something we’re addressing all of the time,” he said.

“Against Derbyshire, Yorkshire and the home match against Durham we were brilliant but then we’ve been left to reflect on some poor performances like yesterday. The difference between our best and worst is too far.

“This side has the capability to play some exciting T20 cricket and we now have two home games, so it’s about showing our fans the style of cricket we want to play - a fearless brand.

“We looked at it as having two semi-finals against Derbyshire and Durham so we were disappointed with our performance yesterday. We’ve reflected upon that and will pick ourselves up against Notts.

“The likelihood of us making it through, even if we win four games, is still up in the air. We’d still need things to go our way but first and foremost we have to play the style of cricket we want to play.

“The good thing is that everybody has something to play for and it’s generally a close competition across the country. Had we managed to beat Durham, we’d be one point outside the top four but the fact is we didn’t - and they were clinical and outplayed us.”

The Outlaws are on a roll in the format having won their last five completed games. That has included an important double over Worcestershire Rapids, who had set the pace in an ultra-competitive North Division.

Saturday’s home win against the Rapids was done in style with the dangerous Riki Wessels playing a brilliant innings and McDonald is aware of the big-hitting talents of the visiting batsmen.

He said: “Notts are a quality side, they have top players such as Lumb, Wessels, Smith, Christian… the list goes on.

“They also had Andre Russell earlier in the year, they have the ability to get in quality players which they have done, so full credit to them. They’re well-drilled, a good unit and are a dangerous side, so we know we’re in for a tough game.

“But we have plenty of talent in this side and have shown that our best is really good, so if we can bring that, we’re in with a really good chance. However, if we don’t, then we’ll be left to lick our wounds at the end of the game.”

Leicestershire have named an unchanged 14-man squad for the visit of their East Midlands neighbours. The O’Brien brothers are still missing with Kevin on international duty in Ireland and Niall continuing to recover from injury.

The Outlaws will be without Jake Ball after the talented seamer was again called into the England squad alongside Alex Hales. Luke Fletcher, Brett Hutton and Sam Wood are in contention to come into the side while Harry Gurney and Greg Smith will return to a ground that they know well.

Foxes (from): Pettini (capt), Cosgrove, Delport, Behardien, Raine, Horton, Wells, Hill (w/k), Dexter, Taylor, Burgess, McKay, Naik, Sayer.

Outlaws (from): Christian (capt), Read (w/k), Fletcher, Gurney, Hutton, Lumb, Mullaney, Patel, Smith, Tahir, Taylor, Wessels, S Wood.