Middlesex CCC | County Championship Match Preview | 30/06/2024

After a dramatic return to County Championship action last time out, Leicestershire welcome Middlesex to Uptonsteel County Ground on Sunday.

The Foxes fell 19 runs short of what would’ve been a remarkable victory at Hove, with Louis Kimber’s record-breaking 243 almost guiding the team to a historic win. Middlesex sit second in Division Two after beating Derbyshire by 194 runs at Lord’s last week.

Entry to day one of the fixture has been made FREE as a showing of Leicestershire's support for County Cricket Day, an initiative set up to showcase the wonders of four-day cricket.

Last Time We Met:

As with many of Leicestershire’s first-class fixtures this season, rain played a heavy hand in determining the outcome “ a draw.

Batting first at Lord’s, Peter Handscomb led the Foxes with a splendid 109 “ while Tom Scriven (46) and Rehan Ahmed (42) also played handy knocks.

Replying to 306, Middlesex duo Sam Robson and Leus du Plooy both made centuries “ while Ben Mike, Scott Currie, Ben Green, and Rehan all picked up two wickets apiece.

Fox to Watch:

There’s only one player to pick out after his exploits at Sussex. Louis Kimber set records tumbling at Hove after his swashbuckling double century took Leicestershire to the brink of a historic chase.

He’s predominantly batted at number three this summer, but a rejig of the order gave him greater licence to play his natural attacking game “ clubbing an astonishing 20 fours and 21 sixes in 127 balls.

That innings took Kimber up to third in the run-scoring charts in red ball cricket for the Foxes this term, with 476 runs at an average of 47.6. Capable of sharply accelerating the scoring rate, his strike rate is now 91.36 “ showing just how dangerous he can be if he settles at the crease.

Opposition Player to Watch:

Sitting top of Middlesex’s batting and bowling averages this year, Ryan Higgins poses a danger in both departments.

Batting at either five or six, Higgins has 867 runs at 96.33, with four centuries to his name. Only David Bedingham (5) has more across both divisions.

To add to that, Higgins has 19 wickets at 29.68. The right-arm medium-fast bowler has generally operated as first or second change, but he can also take the new cherry “ as he did against Derbyshire in the second innings last time out.

Squad:

Ben Green has rejoined the side on a one-match loan following three County Championship fixtures with the Foxes earlier on in the season.

However, there are several absentees for this week’s match. Peter Handscomb suffered a shoulder injury while fielding on the boundary at Hove, and has not recovered in time for Sunday.

Josh Hull has joined up with the England Development side set to take on the West Indies, while Wiaan Mulder and Ian Holland are off to the United States for their stints in Major League Cricket.

Tom Scriven (hamstring) is nearing a return, as is Rehan Ahmed (concussion). Liam Trevaskis (back) is expected to make his comeback in time for the One Day Cup.

Alongside Green, Sol Budinger, Sam Evans and Roman Walker come into the squad.

Leicestershire: Budinger, Cox+, Currie, Evans, Green, Goldsworthy, Hill*, Kimber, Mike, Patel, Salisbury, Swindells, Walker.