Can the Foxes keep themselves in the promotion race?
While Glamorgan’s promotion dreams will realistically have to wait another year, Leicestershire might still have hopes of mounting a challenge, although they are now 19 points behind second placed Middlesex. The problem they share with the teams below them is the lack of bowlers to take the 20 wickets needed for a win at a low enough economy rate. Like Glamorgan, they have just one win so far this season, although the strength of their batting means they have only lost one match.
Peter Handscomb leads the run scoring with 709 runs at 64.45, while Rishi Patel is having another solid season with 635 runs at 45.35. They have been joined by Ajinkya Rahane and between them the Leicestershire batters posted 706 runs for the loss of 15 wickets in their last game against Gloucestershire. Ian Holland has joined Scott Currie on a season-long loan from Hampshire and made his first century of the season in the last game.
The bowling remains an issue for the Foxes and they will now be without Josh Hull following his call up to the England Test squad as a replacement for Mark Wood. They had already brought back Ben Green on loan from Somerset and it may be that Currie comes back in following his stint with the Northern Superchargers. Both Liam Trevaskis and Rehan Ahmed played in the last match, although they went wicketless as Gloucestershire amassed 544 runs for the loss of just four wickets.
Glamorgan also have issues with their bowling, Timm van der Gugten the only real threat in their ranks, particularly with the injury to James Harris. This led to the recruitment of two pace bowlers prior to the last game, Ned Leonard on loan from Somerset and Kiwi Fraser Sheat. Sheat is available for three matches while Leonard’s contract with Somerset is coming to an end and Glamorgan may be looking at him for the longer term given the lack of young bowlers in their squad sticking their hand up for selection. Leonard took two for 112 in Glamorgan’s loss to Derbyshire and the 22-year-old has just five wickets from the four first class games he has so far played, at an average of 71.60. Sheat also failed to make an impact against Derbyshire, going wicketless. Leg pinner, Mason Crane has been Glamorgan’s main threat with the ball having taken 27 wickets at 39.70. The problem is seamers not taking enough wickets at an average in the low twenties, other than van der Gugten and Andy Gorvin, whose medium pace has taken 15 wickets at 24.80. However he was omitted from the last game having played in all the One Day cup fixtures.
Against Derbyshire it was the batting that floundered. This has been Glamorgan’s strong suit this season with Sam Northeast, Colin Ingram and Kiran Carlson each near the top of the run scoring table. Billy Root remains at the top of the order in the absence of suitable alternatives and has done a reasonable job, scoring 502 runs at 29.52. However the only other regular opener in the squad, Eddie Byrom is out for the rest of the season and young Ben Kellaway was pressed into service for the last match. It maybe Glamorgan bring back Zain ul Hassan, who has previously occupied the spot, although with minimal success.
The two sides met at Grace Road at the end of May in a game that due to some rain interruptions and lacklustre bowling on a green track, ended in a draw. Runs from Byrom, Carlson and Northeast saw Glamorgan to 387, the Foxes losing Tom Scriven to injury having only bowled four overs. They replied with 343/9 declared, Handscomb scoring a century, before Glamorgan batted out the final day to end on 157/4.
A draw again looks the most likely outcome if both batting line ups play to their potential.
Key players:
Glamorgan’s Sam Northeast currently sits third in the Division Two run scoring with 915 at 61.00 and might well have his eye on being the first batter to reach the 1000 run mark. He missed the first few games of the One Day cup, but played the last five games making 201 runs at 50.25. However he has been out of the runs for the last few games and with the added responsibility of captaining the red ball side this season, he will be keen to go big this week.
Leicestershire need to find wickets from somewhere and Tom Scriven is someone they hope can start being more productive. He had a successful 2023 season, taking 39 wickets at 23.87, but has injury problems this season and has captured just nine wickets at 66.00. Leicestershire will be hoping he starts getting back to his previous numbers.
Team News:
Chris Cooke returned last week but Harris and Byrom will likely remain out with injuries. Glamorgan will probably stick with Kellaway at the top of the order and we expect Gorvin to start.
Glamorgan squad (from): Sam Northeast (c), Tom Bevan, Kiran Carlson, Mason Crane, Dan Douthwaite, Andy Gorvin, Colin Ingram, Ben Kellaway, Ned Leonard, Jamie McIlroy, Ben Morris, Billy Root, Fraser Sheat, Will Smale, Timm van der Gugten
Ben Mike has been out with injury and Scott Currie did not feature last week. Handscomb kept wicket against Gloucestershire.
Leicestershire squad (from): Lewis Hill (c), Rehan Ahmed, Sol Budinger, Scott Currie, Ben Green, Peter Handscomb (wk), Ian Holland, Louis Kimber, Rishi Patel, Ajinkya Rahane, Tom Scriven, Liam Trevaskis, Roman Walker, Chris Wright
Weather and Conditions
The forecast is for dry, sunny weather with temperatures up to 24°C.
The tendency is for pitches to flatten out as the game goes on in Cardiff and while there may be turn later on, it will be slow and low. Captains often bowl first if they win the toss to try and take advantage of bowler friendly conditions on the first morning. However if you do not get early wickets you could be in for a long stay in the field.
Date: 29th August 2024
Time: 11:00
Ground: Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
