Worcestershire CCC | Match Preview - 19/07/2023

Leicestershire take first-class cricket on the road tomorrow, as County Championship action returns to Oakham School for the first time in 16 years.

The Foxes head into the ‘Festival of Cricket’ placed second in the table, securing a high-scoring draw in the rain-affected fixture at Glamorgan last time out “ led by Rishi Patel’s career-best 179.

Adam Finch’s five-fer helped Worcestershire to a draw against Yorkshire last time out, although the rain also had a heavy say in that result, with the Pears largely on the back foot.

Tickets:

Tickets for day’s two, three and four can be purchased online HERE. Tickets for day one will be available to purchase from the Kilburn Gate gate on the day from 10am.

Last Time We Met:

Worcestershire edged a thriller last time out at New Road. 20 wickets fell on day one, as Chris Wright’s five for 32 helped the Foxes dismiss the hosts for just 83.

The loss of Lewis Hill (49) in the second innings saw Leicestershire fall from 160/5 to 180 all out in tricky batting conditions, leaving Worcestershire with a target of 271 for victory.

As the pitch became flatter, the Foxes found it harder to take wickets. Wiaan Mulder took a valiant 4/69, while Josh Davey claimed 3/61, but solid showings from Gareth Roderick (59) and Adam Hose (84) helped the Pears to a three-wicket win.

Fox to Watch:

Leicestershire’s batting unit has been a hard one to break into this season. Louis Kimber has been the next man in, so to speak, and got his second chance in the past three games in the draw at Glamorgan.

It’s a chance the 26-year-old took with both hands, scoring a quickfire 61 off just 35 balls (6x4, 4x6) to help the side achieve maximum batting bonus points.

With an average of 28.26 in first-class cricket, the versatile batter has plenty more runs to add to his CV, and he’ll be hoping that starts at Oakham this week.

Opposition Player to Watch:

Jake Libby is a dangerous batter when in form. This season, he certainly is on top of his game, with 701 runs recorded at 58.41, including two centuries.

The former Notts opener, who hit an unbeaten 61 in the second innings last week, will be aiming to mirror his stunning 2021 campaign, during which he registered 1,104 runs at an average of 55.2, hitting four centuries.

Squad:

There’s one change to the Foxes squad for this week’s fixture, as Roman Walker replaces the injured Ed Barnes (hand). Rehan Ahmed (shoulder) is in contention, while Wiaan Mulder is expected to be fit to bowl again.

Leicestershire: Ackermann, Ahmed, Budinger, Handscomb+, Hill*, Kimber, Mulder, Parkinson, Patel, Salisbury, Scriven, Walker, Wright.