McDonald looks for Sussex response

Elite Performance Director Andrew McDonald is looking for a reaction as Leicestershire face their antepenultimate game of the season, a home Specsavers County Championship challenge against Sussex.

County suffered a rare defeat in their last outing against an Essex side that showed exactly why they have led the table for most of 2016. Sussex also come into the game on the back of a loss against Essex’s closest rivals Kent, their first four-day defeat of the summer.

Both clubs have a big incentive to bounce back given they can move into third place with a decent points haul. There is little to separate the two; Sussex are on 154 points, Leicestershire are three further back with this week’s fixture being a game in hand on Worcestershire (158).

McDonald is anticipating another tough test but fully expects his side to learn the lessons from their recent setback.

"There's a lot to play for in the last three games, there are three opportunities to show how much we've improved in 2016 and we need to take them,” said McDonald.

"We've had a bit of time to reflect on the Essex result, we've had difficult times previously this season but have been able to bounce back and that's what we're looking to do against Sussex.

“The guys have come back nice and fresh and we’re really looking forward to a very important clash against a really strong side. It’s another good measure of where we’re at.

"We came up against the best side in the competition in the last round and learnt some valuable lessons about what it takes to be the best, but unfortunately Essex were too good for us on that occasion.”

County have been handed a major boost ahead of the game as overseas star Clint McKay returns to a 15-man squad after sustaining a calf injury during the recent draw at Northants.

McKay has claimed 46 victims at 22.67 with only Worcestershire’s Joe Leach and Essex duo Graham Napier and Jamie Porter passing the 50-mark in Division Two so far. Zak Chappell, Ollie Freckingham and Rob Sayer are also in contention to play along with the XI that featured against Essex.

“We’ve named an extended squad of 15 to give us a few options, conditions dependent,” said County’s Elite Performance Director.

“The cricketing world remembers every game you play, and it’s about being at our best, not going away easily, and seeing everything that we’ve put into place continues to operate.

“You can say there’s a lot of time between seasons, but we saw last year how finishing well in 2015 helped us start the 2016 season strongly, and there’ll be opportunities for individuals to put their hands up.

“The guys have worked hard pre-season and during the season, and they owe it to themselves, their team-mates, the club and our supporters to go out there and perform.”

Sussex were missing six players against Kent but are set to be boosted by the return of Ed Joyce from international duty with Ireland.

The left-hander already has 1,000 runs in the bag alongside opening colleague Chris Nash and his presence was missed against a Kent outfit that have gained momentum in recent weeks.

The visitors have a couple of Leicestershire connections although Luke Wright missed last week’s fixture through injury. Overseas bowler Steve Magoffin has been in excellent form, taking 42 wickets at 24.12, with Sussex’s next leading wicket-taker Stuart Whittingham (18).

Leicestershire (from): Horton, Robson, Dexter, Cosgrove (capt), Pettini, Eckersley (w/k), Hill, Sayer, McKay, Raine, Jones, Klein, Shreck, Chappell, Freckingham.