Paul Nixon impressed following Loughborough performance

Head Coach Paul Nixon was delighted with his team’s performance in the three-day pre-season fixture against Loughborough MCCU.

The Foxes ran out comfortable winners, winning by 220 runs and an innings as the bowlers ramped up the heat on the third and final day.

Chris Wright, Will Davis and Arron Lilley impressed on their Foxes debut and Tom Taylor laid some solid groundwork for the season ahead.

However, it was another debutant and his partner at the crease that stole the show.

Hassan Azad, signed recently from Loughborough - and made his debut against Loughborough - and Ateeq Javid hit a record-breaking 309* that surpassed the 38-year 289* record of Chris Balderstone and David Gower.

Azad (139*) came in to bat following the dismissal of captain Paul Horton who fell for just 7 after being bowled by Callum Sanders and was determined to stay at the crease as long as possible, and whilst doing so, defended, pulled and placed his way to an incredible 139*.

Nixon, speaking on the deputising batsman said: “Hass [Azad] had a 99 against the guys up the road at Nottinghamshire, so for him to get over the line is lovely.”

He continued about the partnership formed early on between Javid and Azad: “It was exceptional from both of them. They are both under a little bit of added pressure because they both want to play in the first game away at Sussex, so for those guys to knuckle down and show the application they did was wonderful.

“They both worked immensely hard this winter on their game and it is nice that they have trusted their techniques and their mindset to churn out big hundreds, and that is what you want.

“Both of those two [Javid and Azad] are playing beautifully and it gives confidence not just to them, but to the team and that is crucial.”

Javid and Azad were two of seven batsman to enjoy time at the crease during the win over Loughborough, something that Nixon highlights is very important in the final push to the season opener: “It is crucial to get out in the middle again, and that was the captain’s and coach’s dilemma – do we try and give the batsmen good time at the wicket?

“We have had outdoor nets, but nothing is like being in a match, so it is crucial that guys had time at the crease, but we wanted to win the game as well.”

The game finished as Tom Taylor trapped Will Pereira for lbw during the final session of the final day which saw Loughborough all out for 151, following first innings scores of 151 for the visitors and 524-5d for the Foxes.

Having taken 20 wickets amongst them, the bowling unit were also on Nico’s radar, especially by having three debutants within it: “That’s what it is, it is a team and it is a squad.

“We know we are going to have to rotate at times to keep people fresh. But the guys who had the ball in their hands in this game did really well.

“I’m delighted for Tommy Taylor who has had a long time out through injury and has worked really hard with Matt Mason during the winter – looked really fresh and has tweaked his action a little bit.

“Chris Wright was of a high class. He has got his feel back after being in Australia for the winter and having to find his line and length here at Grace Road.

“Then we have Will Davis who having found his line and length at Grace Road is brilliant. He asked a lot of questions and made the batsmen play consistently, which is what we are after.

“It was also nice that Arron Lilley came on and got a few wickets as well. Arron has been working hard with Jigar Naik – our spin bowling coach – putting a lot of time in in the nets and seeing the fruit of his hard yards."