Sussex CCC | County Championship Match Preview | 12/04/2024

202 days since the last ball was bowled on the hallowed Grace Road turf, cricket returns to Uptonsteel County Ground on Friday as Leicestershire host Sussex.

Alfonso Thomas’ side made a positive start to the season with a spirited draw at Headingley, fighting back from 177/7 to post three batting points via a total of 354. That was in part down to the counter-attacking brilliance of Ben Mike, who added 90 and took 4/44 on his return to Yorkshire.

The proposition this week is a Sussex side boasting the fit-again Cheteshwar Pujara, with Paul Farbrace’s team entering the occasion on the back of a commanding draw against Northamptonshire at Hove.

Last Time We Met:

Last September’s clash saw one of the most memorable fixtures of the 2023 season, as Leicestershire came within inches of a jaw-dropping run-chase.

Needing a mammoth 499 runs to win, the Foxes fell an agonising 15 runs shy of what would have been a record-shattering victory “ although they did comfortably set a club record for Leicestershire’s highest fourth innings total.

Colin Ackermann led the way with 136, while Umar Amin (94), Ben Cox (58), and Tom Scriven (78) also got the Foxes within sight of victory. Ultimately, they were thwarted by Indian overseas star Jaydev Unadkat, whose 6/94 bowled Sussex to victory.

Fox to Watch:

Tom Scriven was a key figure in the last meeting between the two sides. Alongside his career-best 78, he also picked up economical returns of six for 96 from 35 overs “ all the more impressive given the volume of runs on show at Hove.

The all-rounder also performed strongly in the reverse fixture, claiming three for 75 before scoring an unbeaten fifty to secure a final day draw. Those were just two displays that showcased his immense talent across a breakout year for the 25-year-old.

In red-ball cricket, Scriven snared 39 wickets at just 23.87, with only four bowlers in Division Two picking up more, while he scored 543 runs at 19.68 en route to winning Leicestershire’s Young Player of the Year.

This year, he’ll be aiming to go even better by upping his numbers with the bat. If Headingley’s showing “ 56 made during a record-breaking 119-run stand with Ben Mike, is anything to go by, Scriven is on course for another outstanding season.

Opposition Player to Watch:

Tom Haines has started the season in superb touch for Sussex. A score of 133 in the opening round is a clear indication of his talent, following a slight dip in form last summer.

The opener still registered 662 runs at 33.1 but went without a century for the first time since 2019. It followed returns of 941 runs at 49.52 in 2022, and 1,176 runs at 47.04 in 2021 “ hitting three hundreds in each campaign.

If he can scale those heights again at the top of the order, Sussex will have a sturdy foundation to build on before the likes of Pujara reach the crease.

Squad:

Just one change to the squad, as Rehan Ahmed drops out and is set to miss the next two matches. Josh Hull is back out on the grass and will continue his recovery with the Second XI during their season opener at Kibworth on Monday.

Leicestershire: Budinger, Cox+, Currie, Handscomb, Harris, Hill*, Kimber, Mike, Patel, Salisbury, Scriven, Trevaskis, Wood.