My Top Five: Harry Swindells

After signing his new two-year contract at Uptonsteel County Ground this week, we asked Academy graduate Harry Swindells to pick out his top five moments in a Leicestershire shirt. Here’s what he chose…

5: Maiden Career Fifty | Birmingham Bears, 2019 | Uptonsteel County Ground

In a game best remembered for Colin Ackermann’s world-record 7/18, this epic T20 fixture had further significance, as a fresh-faced Swindells tallied his first career half-century.

Opening the batting with Mark Cosgrove, the then-20-year-old got off to a flyer with two glorious boundaries over extra cover, before making his way to a 36-ball fifty.

In front of the Sky cameras, he went on to make 63 from 50 balls, top scoring as the Foxes posted 189/6 from their allocation.

4: Maiden First-Class Win | Lancashire, 2020 | New Road

Next up, a team effort that saw Swindells clinch his first win in red-ball cricket. After Covid-19 delayed the beginning of the truncated 2020 season, Leicestershire had to wait until August to take on Lancashire in the improvised Bob Willis Trophy.

The fixture was moved to Worcester’s New Road, with the Foxes putting on a superb display to beat a strong Lancashire side by seven wickets “ chasing 150 inside 16 overs on the final day.

Ben Slater hit a whopping 172 on debut in the first innings, while Colin Ackermann was typically calculated in the fourth innings chase “ ending on 73 not out from 41 balls.

Swindells was dismissed for five in his only knock “ but the taste of a hard-fought four-day victory was sweet enough to rank as his fourth favourite Foxes moment.

3: Club Record Partnership & Highest Career Score | Somerset, 2021 | Taunton

In third spot, an innings that featured individual brilliance and a prolific partnership to set personal and club records tumbling.

A stand of 203* with Ed Barnes in the County Championship clash at Taunton in 2020 broke Leicestershire’s all-time record for the eighth wicket in first-class cricket, surpassing the previous record of 195 set by James Taylor and Jigar Naik against Derbyshire CCC in 2009 at Grace Road.

Having arrived at the crease at 117/4, Swindells ended the innings on 171 not out from a mammoth 322 balls, his career best, firing the Foxes to 475/7 before heavy rain began to fall.

Ultimately, the weather deprived him of the opportunity to reach a maiden double ton, while Barnes (83*) was denied the chance to tally his maiden century.

2: Maiden Century | Surrey, 2021 | Uptonsteel County Ground

Just pipped to the post is Swindells’ maiden hundred, made at home to Surrey in 2021. Having seen Sam Evans and Marcus Harris reach three figures earlier in the innings, the wicketkeeper-batter also made hay.

It took 148 balls to get there, with his 13th boundary, a cute leg glance to the ropes off Jamie Overton, ensuring Swindells got his name on the Grace Road honours board for the first time.

His knock took Leicestershire to within touching distance of 500, before he became the final man to fall - stumped for 103 with the score on 496.

It was to prove the catalyst for a strong 2021 campaign, during which Swindells averaged 43.31 in Championship cricket.

1: Match-Winning Hundred | Hampshire, 2023 | Trent Bridge

No prizes for guessing top spot. A day Foxes players, staff and fans will never forget, and one which Swindells himself recalls most fondly.

Having not featured in any of the nine matches en route to the final, arriving at the crease with the score perilously placed on 89/6, and facing a Division One strong Hampshire attack, it was a baptism of fire for the Narborough-born batter.

But what followed was an extraordinary display of both character and ability. Swindells smashed an unbeaten 117 from 96 balls, made largely during a club record stand of 151 with fellow Leicester lad Sam Evans, to lead the Foxes to a competitive 267/7.

The 24-year-old’s innings roused the Foxes fans and players, who fought back at every ominous interval to claim a dramatic two-run win from the final ball, and lift their first List A trophy in 38 years.

To watch Harry and his Foxes teammates create more magical moments next summer, secure your 2024 Club Membership HERE.