Yorkshire CCC | County Championship Match Preview | 09/09/2024

After a two-month hiatus, County Championship cricket returns to Uptonsteel County Ground on Monday, as Leicestershire welcome Yorkshire.

Both sides are pushing for promotion to Division One, with the visitors just a point away from second spot and the Foxes a place further back in fourth.

Last Time We Met:

The first of Leicestershire’s nine Championship draws this term, rain throughout the four days meant the season opener at Headingley was always destined for a draw.

Ben Mike impressed with bat and ball on his return to Yorkshire, and his first game back as a Fox. Firstly, his 90 helped turn the tide from a precarious 177/7 - when he walked in - to 354 all out, before taking 4/44 with ball in hand to cap a solid all-round display.

Fox to Watch:

Scott Currie’s return is a much welcomed one. Having missed the One Day Cup because of a Hundred call-up, and the previous two Championship matches due to injury, his absence has been sorely felt.

The Foxes’ top wicket-taker in both the Vitality Blast and County Championship, the Hampshire loanee has been exceptional. His 27 poles from 13 innings in red-ball cricket have been taken at 28.33, which also constitutes the best average in the Leicestershire bowling ranks.

Currie has also added high value with the bat, scoring 227 runs at an average of 37.83.

Opposition Player to Watch:

Perhaps one of the best players in the modern era to go without an England call-up, Ben Coad is a seriously talented operator.

With 284 first-class wickets at under 20, his ability to take wickets consistently and economically (2.84 rpo) is one to be admired.

38 in nine matches at 17.42 a pop puts him second in the Division Two wicket charts, with Coad set to be the chief threat to Leicestershire’s batters this week. 

Squad:

Ben Cox and Scott Currie both return after missing out on the previous two red-ball squads. Peter Handscomb has flown home to Australia, while Alex Green also drops out of the 13.

Ben Mike (side) and Matt Salisbury (calf) will step up their respective recoveries with the Second XI this week. Ben Green remains with Somerset ahead of Finals Day, while Josh Hull is on Test duty with England.

Leicestershire: Ahmed, Budinger, Cox+, Currie, Holland, Hill*, Kimber, Patel, Rahane, Scriven, Trevaskis, Wood, Wright.