Sussex CCC | County Championship Match Preview - 10/09/2023

In the midst of a September heatwave, it’s fitting that Leicestershire’s season, as well as the Division Two promotion hunt, is also hotting up.

After an eight-wicket win over Gloucestershire last time out, third-placed Leicestershire are firmly in the mix as they prepare to take on Sussex at Hove on Sunday.

The Foxes head to the south coast buoyed by the return of spin duo Rehan Ahmed and Callum Parkinson, while new signing Scott Currie will also spice up the side’s bowling options.

Last Time We Met:

The spoils were shared during May’s meeting at Uptonsteel County Ground. The pre-game headlines were dominated by the appearance of Steve Smith for a pre-Ashes stint with Sussex, but Tom Alsop’s unbeaten 181 stole the Australian’s spotlight.

Wiaan Mulder had a fine all-round game for Leicestershire, taking 5/63 and scoring an unbroken ton in the second innings. Rishi Patel also notched a century on the final day, while Rehan Ahmed and Tom Scriven also tallied red-inked fifties in the match.

Fox to Watch:

Colin Ackermann has been in imperious form of late. Averaging 75 from his seven innings en route to the Metro Bank One Day Cup final, the Netherlands international showed his red-ball qualities in the chase against Gloucestershire.

A composed 93 not out guided Leicestershire to an eight-wicket win, putting on 161 with captain Lewis Hill for the third wicket. That knock was even more impressive given the pressure Ackermann was on as he walked to the middle “ arriving at the crease with the side precariously placed on 7/2.

With three games to go, and 829 red-ball runs to his name, the 32-year-old will still have his sights set on surpassing 1,000 County Championship runs this summer.

Opposition Player to Watch:

One of the men tasked with dismissing Ackermann will be Ari Karvelas. The Johannesburg-born bowler has taken 29 scalps at just 25.1 from his seven appearances so far this term, including five at Uptonsteel County Ground in May.

With 77 wickets in 24 first-class outings to date for Karvelas, the Foxes’ batting lineup will need to be wary of the threat he poses, particularly with the new ball in hand.

Squad:

Rehan Ahmed and Callum Parkinson both return, while loanee Scott Currie also links up with the squad that saw off Gloucestershire last week.

Leicestershire: Ackermann, Ahmed, Amin, Budinger, Cox+, Currie, Evans, Hill*, Hull, Kimber, Mulder, Parkinson, Patel, Salisbury, Scriven, Wright.