Northamptonshire CCC | County Championship Match Preview | 26/04/2024

After dominating for three days in Derbyshire last week, Leicestershire saw their victory charge foiled by a day four washout. Hoping for better weather this time around, the Foxes are boosted by the returns of both Rehan Ahmed and Josh Hull for the visit of Northamptonshire.

The visitors were also on top in their fixture last week, posting 605/6 before dismissing Glamorgan for 271. Like Leicestershire’s fortunes, rain scuppered what looked a likely win at the County Ground.

Both sides have drawn all three matches so far this campaign, with Leicestershire sitting one place and two points clear of their East Midlands counterparts.

Last Time We Met:

You’d have to rewind almost five years to find the last County Championship meeting between the two sides. A September clash towards the end of the 2019 season saw Northamptonshire run out seven-wicket winners at Uptonsteel County Ground.

Hassan Azad top scored with 86 in the first innings, with the Foxes posting 308, before the debuting Alex Evans impressed with 3/65 to dismiss Northants for 357.

The Foxes faltered with the bat second time around, however, reaching 189 all out. The visitors chased down the target after 40 overs, with seven wickets in-hand.

Fox to Watch:

Christmas came early for Foxes fans last September when Peter Handscomb put pen to paper on a two-year deal at Grace Road. Back with the team, and back in the runs, he could play a pivotal role again this week.

The Australian scored a typically composed 68 in Derbyshire over the weekend, made during an all-Australian alliance with his close friend Marcus Harris. The pair added 153 runs in two and a half hours in the middle together, as Leicestershire reached maximum batting bonus points en route to 574/7.

It was Handscomb’s second fifty in three innings, adding to his 681 Championship runs scored at 45.4 last summer (4x50, 2x100). He’s spoken this week about converting those starts into match-winning scores “ if he can, the Foxes will be staring at another mammoth total.

Opposition Player to Watch:

On the subject of overseas batters to keep an eye on, Northants’ Karun Nair has had a week to remember. The India international posted a superb double century (202*) to put his side in the driver’s seat on his home ground.

It leaves the 32-year-old averaging north of 100 in his opening three matches of the season, backing up an impressive three-game cameo in Division One last term, where Nair scored 249 runs at 83.

His first-class record is also striking, with an average of 49.75 and 19 centuries to his name from 101 matches.

Squad:

There’s positives news to report on the squad front. Academy graduates Rehan Ahmed and Josh Hull are both added to the squad which travelled to Derbyshire. Matt Salisbury, rested as a precaution last time out, remains in contention “ as does Sol Budinger, who scored 64 for the Second XI at Scarborough this week.

Leicestershire: Ahmed, Budinger, Cox+, Currie, Green, Handscomb, Harris, Hill*, Hull, Kimber, Mike, Patel, Salisbury, Scriven, Trevaskis.

Tickets for the Northamptonshire fixture can be purchased HERE.