Leicestershire county cricket preview: Signings, released players, fixtures, predictions
THE county cricket season is two days away and Express Sport is today having a look at Leicestershire.
Clint McKay will be vital for Leicestershire in all formats
Leicestershire
Last season
CC D2- 7th
RLODC- Group stage, 8th.
T20- group stage, 9th (bottom).
New signings
Richard Jones (Warwickshire)- two-year deal.
Gavin Griffiths (Lancashire)- two-year deal.
Callum Parkinson (Derbyshire)- two-year-deal
Colin Ackermann (SA, EU passport)- two-year deal
James Burke (Surrey)- season-long loan
Mark Cosgrove will provide crucial runs for Leicestershire this season
I'd have liked more success but Leicestershire are moving in the right direction
Players out
Rob Taylor (released)
Atif Sheikh (released)
Ollie Freckingham (released)
Jigar Naik (released)
Michael Burgess (released)
Niall O’Brien (released)
Overseas stars
Clint McKay (Aus)- deal until end of 2017
Luke Ronchi (NZ) – T20
Club captain
Mark Cosgrove
Clint McKay (One-day and T20)
Key man
Mark Cosgrove – the big Australian is Leicestershire’s County Championship captain and has been a consistent performer for a number of years.
Young gun
Rob Sayer- the former England under-19 off spinner was the club’s Young Player of the Year in 2016.
This season's predictions
CCD2- 10th
RLODC- group stage
T20 Blast- knockout stages
James Burke has joined Leicestershire on loan from Surrey for this season
There has been plenty of changes in the close season at Leicestershire, with players in and out as well as Pierre de Bruyn taking over as Elite Performance Director from Andrew McDonald.
It was a miserable season in 2016 when it came to limited overs cricket but Luke Ronchi will help their cause in the T20 Blast – a competition in which they’ve achieved plenty of success in the past.
There are far stronger teams in Division Two of the County Championship so be prepared for another year of consolidation in first-class cricket.
First fixture
CCD2- Nottinghamshire home, Friday 7th April
RLODC- Lancashire away, Friday 28th April
T20 Blast- Lancashire away, Sunday 9th July