My Top Five: Ben Mike

As he embarks on his second chapter with the Club, we asked Academy graduate Ben Mike to pick the top five moments from his Leicestershire career so far.

5: T20 Debut | Pakistan, 2019 | Uptonsteel County Ground

First up, Ben’s maiden T20 appearance. A baptism of fire, it came against the world’s number one ranked side in T20 International cricket: Pakistan.

But it proved an occasion to remember for the boisterous all-rounder, who picked up 3/38 and top scored with 37 off 26 in a losing cause.

Mike dismissed Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, and Asif Ali “ Pakistan’s top three “ who now boast an incredible 248 T20I caps between them, before smashing an attack containing the likes of Imad Wasim, Hasan Ali, and Shaheen Shah Afridi for a quickfire 37.

The Foxes ended up losing by 58 runs, but it was a remarkable introduction to T20 cricket for the then-20-year-old.

4: Lord of Lord’s | Middlesex, 2022 | Lord’s

In fourth, another valiant individual display with both bat and ball. After being bowled out for 149 on day one and seeing Middlesex move to 330/5 the following day, Leicestershire had their backs to the wall.

98 overs into the hosts’ innings, Mike was finally introduced into the attack. It took all of three deliveries for him to strike “ bowling Luke Hollman for 45. Three more wickets followed in quick succession, as Mike ended with impressive figures of 7-2-15-4.

After leading the fightback in the field, Mike turned up in equal measure with the bat. Arriving at the crease with the score 105/5, the all-rounder’s counter-attacking bravado saw him take down Shaheen Shah Afridi en route to a bittersweet 99 not out.

His career-best score, but stranded one run shy of a deserved maiden century, it was a fixture fused with mixed levels of fondness.

3: Final Over Drama | Surrey, 2021 | Uptonsteel County Ground

In third spot, one of 2021’s most memorable matches. With just four runs required from the final over, and three wickets in-hand, Surrey were firm favourites to take the points in the Royal London Cup clash. Mike had other ideas.

The experienced Rikki Clarke was well set on 82, but he was pinned LBW to the second ball of the over. After a second single of the over, the equation left Surrey requiring two runs to win from three balls.

Dan Moriarty was run out by Arron Lilley after trying to steal a quick single off the fourth delivery, before Mike clean bowled Matt Dunn to spark pandemonium on the pitch and clutch the unlikeliest of victories for the Foxes “ home by 1 run on DLS.

2: Last Ball Six | Yorkshire Vikings, 2020 | Uptonsteel County Ground

Where Mike goes, drama follows. And this match was certainly one of the most dramatic in recent Leicestershire history. Chasing 189, the Foxes required nine from the final over to seal victory.

An 88-run stand between Gareth Delany (64) and Colin Ackermann (58) in just 6.5 overs during the middle phase of the innings put the Foxes in the driving seat, but five wickets in as many overs pushed the Vikings back into contention.

Away skipper David Willey made an interesting call to throw the ball to Adam Lyth for the final over. With six runs taken from the first five balls, the Foxes needed three to win. Cometh the hour, cometh Ben Mike “ who whacked a massive six over long on to earn the points in style.

1: Dream Debut | Sussex, 2018 | Hove

Topping Mike’s list is his debut back in September 2018. Having turned 20 the week before, the Academy graduate was straight in to face a star-studded Sussex side, containing the likes of Chris Jordan, Jofra Archer, Ollie Robinson and Phil Salt.

The right-arm quick made an immediate impression with the ball, getting Salt caught and bowled in his fourth over. Luke Wright, David Wiese, and Robinson all followed later in the innings “ giving Mike figures of 4/57 in his maiden display with the ball.

He went one better in the second dig, picking up 5/37 to earn a debut five-fer, and claim outstanding match figures of 9/94 in the earliest indication of his match-winning capabilities.

To watch Ben in action in all three formats for Leicestershire this summer, secure a 2024 Club Membership HERE.