Series poised as it heads for Grace Road

* Tomorrow’s game starts at 10.30am, admission is FREE, and parking is free for Members.

Grace Road is hosting the latest encounter of an intriguingly poised five match one-day series between England and Australia tomorrow (10.30am start).

The sides are locked at 1-1 after three games as a washout at Chesterfield was sandwiched between an Australia win at South Northumberland CC and England’s victory at Derby on Monday.

Leicestershire and Rutland Cricket Chief Executive Wasim Khan MBE said: “We are absolutely delighted to host a game involving two exciting young international sides in a series that is so delicately poised.

“A number of the England team have already made an impression on the county circuit this season and it will be great to see them at Grace Road. Our members and supporters are relishing the opportunity to come to this match.

“We have decided to make entry completely free of charge for all visitors, so please come down to support the young players in what should be a great exhibition of cricket.”

The England side boasts some exciting talent including Dan Lawrence, who broke into the Essex side at the start of the season. Lawrence (pictured) made a fine hundred at Surrey in the LV=County Championship and also scored a century in the latest England under 19s fixture.

Durham duo Adam Hickey and Jack Burnham are also in the squad while Hampshire spin twins Brad Taylor and Mason Crane could be reunited.

Crane, a leg spinner from Shoreham in Sussex, has made rapid strides with Hampshire this summer, and England's coach Andy Hurry was happy to leave him playing regular county cricket even though it meant him missing the four-day match against Australia in Durham as well as the first three 50-over games.

But Hampshire are not involved in the latest round of matches in the LV= County Championship that start on Friday, so Hurry has agreed with their director of cricket Giles White that Crane can link up with the England squad after the Royal London One-Day Cup match against Notts Outlaws at Trent Bridge today.

"All the decisions we make about every player are based on what is best for their individual development," said Hurry.

"It's been pleasing to see Mason making such an impression with Hampshire this summer, as well as other players who have recently been on the England Development Programme or in our Under-19 or Under-17 teams such as Matt Fisher at Yorkshire, Sam Curran at Surrey, and Ed Barnard and Joe Clarke at Worcestershire.

"I've been in regular contact with Giles White at Hampshire and it's great that Mason will now be able to have the experience of playing against Australia in these last two games. It's been an excellent series so far and at 1-1 with two to play, it's set up perfectly for a good finish."

Taylor praised the fact that Sky televised the day-night game at Derby on Monday, just as they had done last season. The young tweaker took 3-26 against South Africa in 2014 and again impressed in front of the cameras in claiming 3-50 from his allocation.

“I’ve always enjoyed playing under lights and the TV coverage adds something extra as well,” said Taylor.

“I made my Hampshire debut in a televised match against Lancashire at Old Trafford a couple of years ago and took a couple of wickets. It’s great that Sky showed one of the games again, it was definitely an extra incentive for all the boys.”

Four members of the England team who played in last year’s televised match have become familiar names for Leicestershire followers this season.

Joe Clarke and Ed Barnard both performed well for Worcestershire against Leicestershire in the Royal London One Day Cup on Monday while Yorkshire duo Will Rhodes and Matt Fisher also caught the eye against the Foxes earlier this season.

The game at Grace Road will be vital for the two teams, who then travel to Worcester for the final match of the series in what will be a special homecoming for Australia coach Graeme Hick on Saturday.

England's only fitness concern ahead of tomorrow's game is Saqib Mahmood, the Lancashire fast bowler who suffered a nasty cut to his hand when dropping a sharp chance offer by Australia's captain Jake Doran. Mahmood, who was making his first appearance of the series after suffering a calf injury in the four-day match, had bowled an impressive new-ball spell.

England Squad: Aneurin Donald (Glamorgan, capt), Ryan Davies (Kent, wk), Hugh Bernard (Kent), Jack Burnham (Durham), Mason Crane (Hampshire), Ben Green (Somerset), Haseeb Hameed (Lancashire), Adam Hickey (Durham), Dan Lawrence (Essex), Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire), Brad Taylor (Hampshire), Callum Taylor (Essex), Aaron Thomason (Warwickshire), Jared Warner (Yorkshire), Saif Zaib (Northamptonshire)