There's all to play for - Eckersley

Ned Eckersley spoke of the importance of a good return before the games at Trent Bridge and the St Lawrence Ground - and the Foxes delivered on both fronts.

After collecting two Vitality Blast points at Notts Outlaws, the team banked 20 points in the crucial Specsavers County Championship match at Kent CCC.

The 'keeper/batsman acknowledges that the Foxes now needs to keep their good form going in both competitions, but feels it is important to focus on one game - and format - at a time.

“It was a huge win at Kent following the one at Notts,” said Eckersley. “We knew that it was all about putting ourselves in a good position in both formats, and we’ve done that over the last few days.

“It was important to enjoy the victory at Kent, and we’re in a good position, but there are several games to go in the [Specsavers County] Championship, and a few other teams will be thinking they are in with a chance.

“There is a good chance of promotion and we want to make the most of that. We’re playing solid red ball cricket, and are improving all of the time, but we don’t play for a few weeks. So we need to adapt quickly again now with T20 coming back around.

“We’re not getting carried away, but everyone is confident and excited, and that’s a good position for us to be in at this stage of the season. There’s all to play for.”

Eckersley is delighted to be back and contributing to the Foxes’ success after two frustrating spells on the sidelines through injury.

He scored a patient 74 that went a long way to setting up the victory, and also took eight catches behind the stumps in Canterbury, a contribution that Head Coach Paul Nixon was quick to highlight in his post-match interview.

Eckersley said: “It’s been difficult for me with missing a few weeks with injury. I am just happy to be back out there playing.

“I wish I could have gone on and got a few more runs, it wasn’t so much about getting a personal 100, just increasing the lead as much as we could.

“We probably left a few runs out there, but it was good to spend some time in the middle. We wanted to be positive after bowling them out, and it was nice to contribute to another win.”

Eckersley is now looking forward to the visit of Derbyshire Falcons, the first of four T20 games in seven days.

There is a short gap before next Tuesday’s trip to Yorkshire Vikings, but back-to-back games follow at home to Birmingham Bears (Thursday) and at Lancashire Lightning (Friday), so the Foxes will have played 10 group games by the time they end at Emirates Old Trafford on Friday week.

Six points from six games represents a good start, but the Foxes will need to add to that tally to stay in the mix.

Eckersley said: “The lads are really up for the challenge of the next few weeks, and the focus is back to T20 as there are four important games in seven days coming up.

“We’re three and three from six games, so we also have a chance in T20 if we produce our best form. We’re in contention in both competitions, so are in a good space, and have momentum at a crucial time of the season.

“It’s really exciting, the games against Notts and Kent were important for our season, and wins from both games has set the rest of the season up nicely.

“It’s great to be a part of it, all of the lads are confident, and everyone is looking forward to the Derbyshire game tomorrow.

“We’ve had some good games against Derbyshire over the last few years. The matches are now coming thick and fast, so it would be great to start this batch of T20 games with a win.”

Head Coach Paul Nixon says his players are determined to improve on a record of having won all three of their matches away from the Fischer County Ground.

“We haven't delivered for our own fans yet and we're desperate to do that,” said Nixon. “Derbyshire have got a bit of momentum of late, they go heavy with pace, but we'll be prepared. We have a good record against them in the past.

“We're in a good space after producing our 'A' game against Notts, and we know what the pitch and conditions will be like at the FCG.

“We feel we've played some decent cricket there, but had spells of eight to ten balls when we've made poor decisions, especially against spinners. We know that, and we've been getting stuck into practice to make sure we get it right against Derbyshire.”

Leicestershire Foxes is unchanged from the 14-man squad that travelled to Trent Bridge, so Ateeq Javid, Gavin Griffiths and Rob Sayer are in contention alongside the XI that beat Notts Outlaws.

Foxes (from 14): Ackermann (capt), Abbas, Chappell, Cosgrove, Delport, Dexter, Eckersley, Griffiths, Javid, Nabi, Parkinson, Raine, Sayer, Wells.

* See the Foxes in our next Vitality Blast home game against Derbyshire Falcons tomorrow! The best value tickets are available in advance – a family ticket for 2 adults and 3 under 16s is available for £37 before 11.59pm tonight (Thursday). Secure your seat today HERE