Robson pleased with Dubai preparation

Angus Robson feels that the Leicestershire CCC squad will greatly benefit from their competitive pre-season tour to Dubai.

The club spent the best part of two weeks training and playing in the intense heat of the United Arab Emirates before returning to the UK to continue build up to the season opener at Loughborough MCCU next Monday (April 11).

Robson was able to spend plenty of time in the middle, including posting a century in the two-day game against a Yorkshire XI, and was impressed by the intensity of the trip.

"I thought it was a really worthwhile tour, it was almost two weeks and it was pretty full on,” said Robson.

“It was a hardworking tour with lots of games and training, and it was testing with the heat combined with the net sessions and matches. It was something we needed to do and will stand us in good stead for the start of the new season.

"Something I was struck by was how competitive the games were so early in the season. Both sides always took it really seriously and there was a lot of cricket. It was a tour where you had to play well to get your place in the side but on the flip side, if it wasn't your day there was another game just around the corner.

"The games came thick and fast so there were lots of opportunities to play and perform, and outside the games there was nets at top-class facilities and our practice was run to a very high standard.”

Robson thinks that the tour combined everything that the players required, including getting to know his new teammates and new Second XI and Assistant Skills Coach Pierre de Bruyn.

He said:  "The biggest benefit of the whole trip was that every player who went had the opportunity to showcase their skills. It wasn't a tour where players didn’t get much of a chance, everyone had their day in the sun where they performed and was able to come out of Dubai in some pretty good form.

"There are going to be a few new partnerships with new batsmen and we'll all have to get used to it, but there will be no drama in that. We have high-quality players coming in and it’s great to form a bond with them early in the year. There's nothing like having nets together and playing matches to get those partnerships working.

"It was great to meet Pierre (de Bruyn) and he's someone who will provide us with a lot of fresh ideas. I know myself that he's already been of great benefit as I had a few hits with him and he gave me a lot of useful tips. He'll be a great help to all of the players.

"It was a good tour for the whole team and coaches to gel and work hard together. A few of us had come from all over the world so it was good to get back together as a full squad. Nothing can compare to a good training session together with all of the boys and coaches there.”

* Our first Specsavers County Championship game of the season against Kent is now under three weeks away. The best way to watch Leicestershire CCC throughout the 2016 season is through our Membership packages. Prices start from just £10 for under 16s in our Charlie Fox Club, £60 for students and under 22s, £115 for seniors and £140 for adults. For more information, please follow the link HERE or call 0116 245 2401.