The Foxes seem to have got things back on track with Alfonso Thomas and James Taylor sharing the coaching duties and Claude Henderson as Director of Cricket. Last season they narrowly missed out on a quarter final spot in the Blast and made the semi finals of the One Day Cup. Bowling deficiencies meant they found it difficult to win games in the Championship, but their batting is productive, led by Australian Peter Handscomb. He will be returning to the Uptonsteel County Ground for a third summer and is joined by Logan van Beek as the overseas players so far announced for 2025. The 34-year-old Dutchman has previously played for Derbyshire and Worcestershire, and is currently involved with Wellington, having been born in New Zealand. He has featured in all formats for the Kiwi side, taking 12 wickets at 28.50 from four Plunket Shield games as well as scoring 262 runs at 32.75.
The one other permanent signing so far is Ian Holland who spent last season on loan from Hampshire. The 34-year-old adds experience to the side, although has been less produutive in recent years. He played seven Championship games for the Foxes last summer, scoring 324 runs and taking 14 wickets.
The strength of the Foxes is in their batting, although other than Handscomb their Championship form dipped from 2023. That was particularly the case for Lewis Hill with just 431 runs at 20.52 and he stepped down as club captain at the end of last season. He has been replaced by Handscomb, who led the side in the Blast over the last two seasons. Rishi Patel was the second highest Championship run scorer with 719 at 35.95, but he too will be looking to improve, having reached three figures just once. Leicestershire have done well to get the 26-year-old to sign a further two year deal as there must be counties interested in the opening batter. He has now also become an effective white ball ball player, scoring a club-record-equalling 41-ball hundred in the Blast last season.
To win games you need bowlers who take wickets cheaply and this is where Leicestershire particularly struggle. It was therefore a surprise when they announced the signing of Pakistan Test captain (at least at the tiime of writing this), Shan Masood as their third overseas player. He will arrive in time for the Foxes’ first Blast game on 30 May and will be available for all three formats.
Scott Currie led the Championship wicket taking with 29 at 31.17, but he will be back with Hampshire. They have however retained the services of Ben Green for the first seven Championship games. The Somerset all-rounder made six appearances for the Foxes last summer, scoring 143 runs and taking 11 wickets. Ben Mike took 26 wickets at 35.00 and Tom Scriven 15 at 58.86. Rehan Ahmed again was relatively ineffective with the ball, taking just 13 wickets at 60.69. Those numbers are not going to trouble opposition batters and while Chris Wright was very unfortunate to have missed the first half of the season, he is unlikely to add too much to the attack as he approaches his 40th birthday. The Foxes will be hoping that Josh Hull can play more and support Van Beek. He managed just three Championship games last summer, bowling 68 overs and taking just two wickets at 182.50. That did not prevent him making his England debut in the Oval Test against Sri Lanka; a game won by the visitors.
Handscomb has been replaced by Louis Kimber as captain of the T20 Blast side. At present there are no specific T20 signings and Van Beek along with Handscomb will be playing in the Blast as well as the Championship. Kimber recorded the fastest double century in County Championship history last summer against a competition-record of 43 from a single over.
Key player
Peter Handscomb has been mister dependable for Leicestershire, topping the run scoring in the Championship and the One Day Cup last year. He currently sits fourth in the Sheffield Shield run scoring stats with 644 at 40.25. Leicestershire will be counting on him for middle order runs as well as his leadership.
One to watch
Leicestershire need to find some wicket taking bowlers and we talked about Hull as the one to watch at the start of last season. Hopes will again be high that he can start to deliver, but others will need to stick their hand up. Alex Green is a young seamer who will want to get some more opportunities this season, having been part of the England under 19 squad that has been touring in South Africa this winter. He took four wickets in three One Day Cup games last summer and also made his Championship debut.
Overseas signings: Peter Handscomb (Australia), Logan van Beek (Netherlands), Shan Masood (Pakistan, from 31 May)
Ins: Ian Holland (Hampshire), Ben Green (on loan from Somerset until 26 May)
Outs: Sam Evans (released)
How will they fare
It is difficult to see Leicestershire getting enough wins in the Championship to mount a serious promotion challenge, so it will again be the One Day Cup in which they will hope to compete seriously. A Blast quarter final spot is possible, given the relative weakness of the North Group.
Opening fixture: CC vs Glamorgan on April 4 at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
Likely Championship XI
- Patel
- Budinger
- Hill
- Handscomb
- Holland
- Cox (WK)
- Ahmed
- Van Beek
- Green
- Mike
- Scriven
