Lancashire Vs. Leicestershire LVCC preview.

               LVCC: Lancashire v Leicestershire preview

Hosts Lancashire have had a formidable campaign and are hoping to clinch promotion and perhaps even the Division Two title in this match.

Luis Reece is in fine form with six
consecutive fifties in this campaign.

They have every reason to achieve both feats, playing a Leicestershire side that are yet to win a championship game this season.

Lancashire were made to work hard for their latest win, against Hampshire at Southport, thanks to a record-breaking 191-run eighth-wicket stand between Adam Wheater and Matt Coles. Therefore, they will take nothing for granted despite being clear favourites.

Comparatively Leicestershire’s Championship season has been one of their worst among a succession of disappointing campaigns. They have never gone a whole Championship season without winning a match – avoiding that unwanted first is surely their only interest going into this fixture, though they will still maintain faint hopes of finishing higher than the bottom position in the second division where they currently lie.

With Lancashire needing 18 points for promotion and 23 to claim the title, Leicester will try to avoid being the side that enables them to progress further. However, they are sure to face a tough task against the only team in the country who are yet to lose this season in four-day cricket.

Team news

Lancashire find themselves without regular captain Glen Chapple, sidelined by an injury sustained in the recent match against Hampshire at Southport. Paul Horton will captain the side. Meanwhile, wicket-keeper Gareth Cross is omitted; youngster Alex Davies takes his place. Zimbabwean seamer Kyle Jarvis, who signed for the Red Rose as a non-overseas player last month, is included in a first XI squad for the first time.

Lancashire squad: Paul Horton (c), Andrea Agathangelou, Alex Davies (wk), Kyle Hogg, Kyle Jarvis, Simon Katich, Simon Kerrigan, Oliver Newby, Ashwell Prince, Luke Procter, Luis Reece, Tom Smith

Leicestershire are missing a number of key players for a variety of reasons, leading them to name a scratch squad for the trip to Manchester. Matthew Boyce is expected to captain. Ramnaresh Sarwan, Matthew Hoggard, Jigar Naik, Josh Cobb, Shiv Thakor Anthony Ireland and Robbie Williams are among the players not taking part.

Leicestershire squad: Matthew Boyce (c), Nathan Buck, Ned Eckersley, Ollie Freckingham, Niall O’Brien (wk), Ben Raine, Angus Robson, Greg Smith, James Sykes, Rob Taylor, Michael Thornely, Tom Wells, Alex Wyatt

Key men

With a number of established figures in Lancashire’s side, it is easy for the youth to go unrecognised. A player who has consistently contributed towards Lancashire’s success in the Championship in recent weeks is Luis Reece. The left-handed opener has relished his opportunity at the top of the order, hitting six consecutive fifties and a high-score of 85 in the reverse-fixture at Grace Road. He is without question one of the most promising prospects in this Lancashire side and has recently demonstrated his potential as an all-round talent, claiming wickets in his last two matches for the Red Rose county. He is yet to register his maiden century and this match is poised perfectly for him to do so and continue in his fine form as he hopes to help Lancashire in their bid to secure promotion.

Amongst a number of average contributions, Ned Eckersley stands tall, having scored 1,267 runs at an average of 57.59 this campaign, obtaining four centuries in the process. Leicestershire’s inability to score runs has been a big issue and, with the lowest number of batting points across both divisions (20), Eckersley is a vital figure if they hope to mount a respectable total against a bowling attack which features three players who have taken fifty wickets each so far this season.

Prediction

It is hard to imagine that Leicestershire will undergo a sudden change in fortunes and defy all the odds by beating Lancashire and as such they are certainly the underdogs for this encounter. Many will have Lancashire down as certain victors of this match and rightly so, as they hope to pick-up their ninth win of the season and perhaps secure the Division Two title. With one side playing for a great deal and the other with no motive, Lancashire will be expected to win, should the Manchester weather permit a full game.