Two winless teams face off at the foot of Division 2 of the County Championship
It’s hard to know who will come into this game feeling worse. Last week, Sussex declared in their second innings, setting Middlesex an unlikely 370 to win, but Sussex’s lack of bowling resources came back to haunt them, and Middlesex strolled home in the end.
For the Running Foxes defeat was more mundane and perhaps more predictable, going down comfortably to Glamorgan.
Either way, neither of these sides has a win yet this season and they will be desperate to change that.
For Sussex the runs off Cheteshwar Pujara’s bat have been the highlight, and the Indian’s class has shone through. The contribution from their overseas player has been gargantuan, 717 runs at an average of 143 is hot form by anyone’s standards.
On the flip side the much vaunted arrival of Beuran Hendricks at Leicestershire has not come good. Four wickets at 120 per wicket isn’t the kind of return anyone would have expected, and Leicestershire fans would have hoped for.
For Sussex, bowling remains the problem. The return of Ollie Robinson last week was welcome. His seven wickets against Middlesex was a great result, but he clearly is still working his way back to full fitness and couldn’t fully contribute in the second innings. The loan signings of Mason Crane and Aaron Beard, and the return to fitness of George Garton didn’t really bring the returns Ian Salisbury’s men were hoping for.
For Leicestershire, Hassan Azad has been a shining light at the top of the order, chipping in with two half centuries last time out, and Callum Parkinson continues to impress with his left arm spin. Outside of those two performers there just isn’t enough consistency or contribution all round and the Foxes look the most likely to sit at the foot of Division two.
In a great initiative, Leicestershire are giving away 1,000 tickets for each day of the match to encourage supporters into the ground.
Key Players
With more dry weather forecast for the coming week, the batsmen are going to do their thing and so it’s the bowlers who need to step up.
For Leicestershire Callum Parkinson will get plenty of overs and he’ll need to keep things tight and pose a wicket taking threat, while his seamers operate at the other end.If he can do that effectively, perhaps Hendricks and Wiaan Mulder can come to the party.
For Sussex, the continued return to fitness of Ollie Robinson is the key factor. If he can contribute again, his standard should be too much for Leicestershire’s batting line up and can lead Sussex to their first win of the season.
Team News
Leicestershire will be hoping that captain Colin Ackermann can return to the side to lead them, and a return for Lewis Hill would also bolster the batting.
For Sussex, how Robinson and Garton pull up after their returns last week will be important, if they are to keep a threatening bowling attack. The strong performances of Tom Alsop, Tom Haines and Ali Orr suggest the batting will stay much as it has been so far.
Mohammad Rizwan will be unavailable due to a family bereavement. Mason Crane will also be an absentee as he has returned to Hampshire after his loan spell came to an end.
Squads
Leicestershire (from)
Colin Ackermann (c), Hassan Azad, Sam Evans, Beuran Hendricks, Lewis Hill, Louis Kimber, Ben Mike, Wiann Mulder, Rishi Patel, Callum Parkinson, Scott Steel, Harry Swindells (wk), Chris Wright
Sussex (from): Tom Haines (c), Tom Alsop, Aaron Beard, George Burrows, Oli Carter (wk), Tom Clark, Henry Crocombe, Sean Hunt, Archie Lenham, Ali Orr, Cheteshwar Pujara, Delray Rawlins, Ollie Robinson.
Weather
Four dry days beckon in Leicester this week, although a wet day on Wednesday could liven the pitch first up on Thursday morning. If the batsmen get past that, it could be another tough outing for the bowlers.
Date: 12th -15th May 2022
Time: 11:00am
Ground: Upton Steel County Ground, Leicester
Odds (SkyBet): Leicestershire 6/5; Sussex 8/13
