Nixon relishing Oakham School return

Leicestershire CCC Head Coach Paul Nixon is relishing the prospect of returning to Oakham School as the Foxes take on Lancashire in the Royal London One-Day Cup tomorrow (11am start).

Nixon was in the line-up the last time the Foxes played a game at the picturesque venue in 2008, a victory against Notts Outlaws in the Friends Provident Trophy.

It was a setting that Nixon thoroughly enjoyed playing at, and he is now looking forward to taking his side back to Rutland tomorrow.

He said: “There’s a wonderful atmosphere you get at outgrounds, and it will be no different at Oakham School tomorrow. I loved playing at Oakham School and it will be a privilege to return as Head Coach.

“There’s the new BAF Smith Pavilion now and the facilities are top-class, as they always have been. I know Mr Smith, who has put a lot of time and investment into Leicestershire County Cricket Club over the years, and we are grateful for that as a club.

“A lot of hard work has gone into the preparation, so I’d like to thank Oakham School on behalf of the whole club. We’re hoping for a big crowd to enjoy what promises to be an exciting game against a good Lancashire side.”

Oakham School's Director of Cricket will be familiar to many Leicestershire supporters: Zimbabwe all-rounder Neil Johnson, who played 13 Tests and 48 ODIs for his country, played for the Foxes in the 1997 season.

Among the school's many cricketing alumni, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and of course England all-rounder Stuart Broad is the most prominent.

Nixon said: “Oakham has always been a good surface, a good, bouncy pitch that generally has something in it for everyone, including a little bit of turn and bounce.

“It's a quick outfield too, high-scoring generally, like the Fischer County Ground. It seems like five minutes ago that Broady [Stuart Broad] was tearing in from the far end when I was keeping wicket!”

Nixon’s charges go into tomorrow’s game on the back of a record-breaking batting performance at Worcestershire Rapids, where the Foxes posted their highest ever List A total against another first-class county, 376 for 4.

The Foxes would have been on four points and moved up the North Division had they beaten the Pears, but it was not to be, so the team will now need to win their final three games and see where it takes them.

“We were bitterly disappointed after a record Leicestershire score in this format,” said Nixon. “We are very proud of that. We wanted our batsmen to stand up after the last performance and be a lot more positive and take it to the opposition, which they did.

“Horts [Paul Horton] and Cam [Cameron Delport] set the tone, Rainey [Ben Raine] played a great knock up the order, and Cozzie [Mark Cosgrove], Colin [Ackermann] and Tom [Wells] struck the ball beautifully.

“At half-time we talked about hitting the right length on that pitch and we didn’t execute things. We went way too full and Callum Ferguson punished us, as most of the batsmen did.

“We saw special innings and hats off to him [Callum Ferguson]. But we have to look at what we do and improve against Lancashire tomorrow. It’s a must-win game for us, there’s no doubt about that.”

There are two changes to the 13-man squad with Lewis Hill and Harry Dearden coming in for Ben Raine and Gavin Griffiths, who are both rested for this fixture. Ateeq Javid and Dieter Klein are also in contention.

Foxes (from 13): Aaron, Ackermann, Cosgrove, Dearden, Delport, Dexter, Eckersley, Hill, Horton, Javid, Klein, Parkinson, Wells.

* Don’t miss tomorrow’s game between the Foxes and Lancashire at Oakham School. Ticket prices are: £15 for adults and £5 for under 16s and can be purchased on the gates. Matchday information is available HERE