McDonald ready for Gloucestershire challenge

Head Coach Andrew McDonald has hailed the impact of Leicestershire’s senior players ahead of tomorrow’s LV=County Championship match against Gloucestershire (10.30am start).

Mark Cosgrove is in fine form having posted hundreds in consecutive matches and Niall O’Brien has gone close to that feat while Clint McKay, who has enjoying a fantastic first season at Grace Road, has had a particularly impressive period in red ball cricket.

Since tea on day three against Derbyshire, McKay has claimed 12 wickets from 45.1 overs at a cost of just 96 runs and his purple patch has also included 64 valuable runs without being dismissed, including a first 50 for the club at Northants.

McKay has taken 50 first-class wickets this summer alongside Ben Raine and Charlie Shreck, and although the latter is ruled out because of a hamstring injury, Wayne White goes into the fixture with a five-wicket haul under his belt.

The squad has a nice blend of experience and youth and the team is now producing consistent performances in the LV=County Championship, much to the delight of the Head Coach.

“We’re happy that we backed up the Derbyshire performance as that is the key to success in first-class cricket,” said McDonald.

“None were better than the captain, Mark Cosgrove, with back to back centuries, and Niall O’Brien. Clint McKay was outstanding again and he, Ben Raine and Charlie Shreck have led the attack really well all season.

“We’ve remained buoyant throughout the season. The way the guys keep presenting the energy and effort at training, it will turn. It will take some time but the Northants game was another significant step forward for us.”

Leicestershire’s science and medicine team have done a tremendous job in limiting injuries this term but last week’s game at Wantage Road stretched those particular departments of both sides.

Northants had to use eight different people as ‘twelfth man’ including their Head Coach David Ripley as Rob Newton fractured a thumb, Steven Crook picked up an ankle problem and Richard Levi hurt his finger among other knocks.

County also suffered as Raine landed awkwardly on the ball while Shreck pulled up in his run up but the former has made good progress over the last few days and is part of the squad.

McDonald said: “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a game with four significant injuries and it was pretty much all square by the end with nine fit players each! It was a strange one but I guess it’s just one of those things that happen.

“The break has given Ben Raine’s injury a chance to heal and for us to get some good preparation to be all set for Gloucestershire. The lads had a couple of days off and were then back in training, they’ve had a break at the weekend and were back in today.

"We have three games left and want to make the most of those 12 days of Championship cricket. I think that two wins out of three is very achievable with the momentum we have.”

Rob Taylor and Dan Redfern are in contention to face Gloucestershire after making centuries for the Seconds at Northamptonshire last week while Andrea Agathangelou, who was twelfth man for the last Championship game at Wantage Road, is also part of the 12-man squad.

The visitors are missing a key man in Michael Klinger but fellow Australian Pete Handscomb, who once played for Leicestershire's Second XI, comes in to replace the batsman and Will Tavare will lead the side.

Leicestershire (from): Cosgrove (capt), Agathangelou, Ali, Eckersley, McKay, O’Brien (w/k), Raine, Redfern, Robson, Sayer, Taylor, White.