Robson looks ahead to Essex challenge

* Under 16s can come to all four days of the Specsavers County Championship game against Essex absolutely free of charge while adult tickets are available for £10 on the gate.

PREVIEW | Leicestershire opening batsman Angus Robson said the team is prepared for a huge Specsavers County Championship game against Essex at the Fischer County Ground this week.

Tomorrow’s fixture, which starts at 11am, is between the top two in Division Two with Essex currently holding a 23-point advantage.

It promises to be a fascinating encounter with Robson and Leicestershire having enjoyed success in the recent history of the fixture.

County have won two of the last three meetings between the sides and the 24-year-old has passed 50 on half a dozen occasions in nine Specsavers County Championship innings against Essex, scoring 519 runs at a career average of 64.87.

The 24-year-old's highest first-class score of 120 came in the 2014 contest at Chelmsford. It was a brilliant innings that helped to lay the foundations and he followed it up with another fine knock to help the team over the line.

The opener made a season high 84 in the draw at Northants last week so is relishing the challenge that is in store over the next few days.

“It’s the biggest game we’ve played for quite some time, which is very exciting, we’re in a position we haven’t been in for many years." said Robson.

“It’s going to be a hell of a game. They have so many good players but we do as well now, we’ve become a pretty good side, and both sides will be up for it.

“Winning a couple of recent games against Essex gives us a big amount of confidence. We had an extremely important win there earlier this season, one that probably looked a bit unlikely going into the final day.

“That definitely gives us a lot of confidence and we go in with our spirits high, but it doesn’t give us an advantage. I think that whoever plays better cricket this week will get the job done."

Leicestershire’s batting line-up has been excellent with Paul Horton, Neil Dexter, Mark Cosgrove, Mark Pettini and Ned Eckersley all scoring at least two hundreds this season. Robson, who has seven half-centuries – including in both innings when Leicestershire beat Essex in Chelmsford in June – says that has been key to the Foxes promotion push.

He said: “I’m fortunate to be part of such a strong unit of proven players with great records. It’s a very positive thing for us, and other teams know they’re going to have work hard to get through us.

“I just want to play a role. Of course I’d like to get more hundreds but I’m confident that will come. I feel I’ve been consistent without really dominating, so that is the next step for me.

“You can’t really put into words how far we’ve come in the last year or so: if you look back to 18 months ago, we’ve made massive strides. We have a crucial month coming up now and are well set to challenge to go up.”

On the bowling front, Leicestershire CCC have suffered a blow ahead of the match as leading wicket-taker Clint McKay is ruled out with a calf injury. County have named a 13-man squad with seam trio Richard Jones, Dieter Klein and Zak Chappell all coming into contention. 

“It’s a big loss, there’s no doubt about that,” said Robson. “Clint has been a crucial part of the team since last year but we have plenty of depth in our bowling attack and that’s been important to our success this year.”

Essex are buoyed by the return of Alastair Cook as England’s captain, who has been made available for the next two Specsavers County Championship matches, is part of a 13-man travelling party.

Talented all-rounder Will Rhodes recently signed on loan from Yorkshire while batsman Dan Lawrence and former Foxes seamer David Masters could also return after missing last week’s victory at Derbyshire.

Leicestershire (from): Horton, Robson, Dexter, Cosgrove, Pettini, Eckersley, Hill, Sayer, Raine, Jones, Shreck, Chappell, Klein.

Essex (from): ten Doeschate (capt), Foster (w/k), Cook, Browne, Westley, Bopara, Lawrence, Zaidi, Rhodes, Napier, Masters, Porter, Walter.