RizLCFC

Apparently he's top quality!

Overseas player is an Aussie. Who we sign is massive, he better get it right!

Leicestershire CCC optimistic talks will lead to couple of new signings. Leicestershire are hopeful they will be in a position to strengthen their ranks for next season before the current campaign ends later this month. Director of cricket Phil Whitticase said he has been in negotiations with a couple of players and is “optimistic” about the outcome of talks. “They are good quality players who would make a difference to us,” he said. “One of them is an overseas player. I’ve spoken to the players and their representatives. “Those discussions are on-going but I’m optimistic we could have something by the end of the month.” In the wake of Shiv Thakor’s move to Derbyshire and speculation linking pace bowler Nathan Buck with Lancashire, County supporters will want to know sooner rather than later what the prospects are of a stronger side lining up next season. Josh Cobb, Ned Eckersley and Greg Smith have also been offered new deals at the club and, while they have yet to commit, there is the real danger that County could be left with more holes to fill in their squad. One of the keys, then, is for the club to sign a high-calibre overseas player as quickly as they can. County thought they had that in Ramnaresh Sarwan and his first season, 2012, was a productive one. However, international and Caribbean Premier League calls saw his influence reduced in 2013 and this season has been ravaged by injury to such a degree that the West Indian figured in just five Championship matches with a paltry aggregate of 184 runs. Simply, County need more from whoever slots into the overseas berth. “It is massive to get in an overseas player who will be a good man in the changing room but will also lead by the level of his performance on the field,” said Whitticase. “If they go out and perform on the field then they will get the respect, and I felt that happened with Ramnaresh in his first season with us. “Because of West Indies calls, which we didn’t anticipate, and injuries we haven’t had that since.” If Whitticase can bring in the right face, coupled with another experienced hand, it would be a major step forward and would put just a touch of gloss on what has been another difficult year at Grace Road. Source: Leicester Mercury

Apparently Boyce has agreed a 1 year contract, hooooooorraaayyyy!

Let's hope he's got the guts to do it. I reckon we may make an internal appointment and the shambles will continue.

Shiv Thakor was offered a 2 year contract by us, he was thinking of staying for 1 year at least as I said before, but the club have treated him poorly, not just mismanaging his finger injury but keeping him out the team etc. Anthony Ireland is being released for budgetary reasons, not bothered about that. Nathan Buck has a choice of Derbyshire or Lancashire, and it's looking like the latter will win his services. Eckersley off to Essex, Cobb to Northants being rumoured about the place. Not sure on Greg Smith yet. If any of you fancy a game next season, get in touch with the club!

Dan Redfern scored 80 off 70 and before that took 2-19 off 6 overs. Tom Wells unbeaten 50 too.

Derbyshire have made formal approaches for Leicestershire’s out-of-contract pair Shiv Thakor and Nathan Buck but face competition from other counties for both of them. Ned Eckersley and Josh Cobb, two more out-of-contract Leicestershire players, are considering leaving Grace Road. Essex have emerged as favourites to sign Eckersley, a wicketkeeper-batsman, as replacement for Ben Foakes as back-up to James Foster. Foakes is joining Surrey next season. Northamptonshire are keen to recruit Cobb to strengthen their under-performing batting line-up and are in contract talks with the 24-year-old.

Would that be crickets equivalent of Liverpool v Southampton?

He feels he'll get a lot more first team cricket at Leicestershire then anywhere else, which is spot on. Also, I don't think his injury has helped him in securing a move elsewhere, interest from other counties has faltered as he hasn't played much cricket this season.

On the bright side, Thakor should sign a 1 year extension with us.

A friend of mine told me Eckersley is joining Essex.

Hopefully Whitticase is next out!

Interesting interview with Josh Cobb on Radio Leicester today. He says he wants to stay at Leicestershire, hasn't spoken to any other clubs yet. He added that several others want to stay as well but together, they want Phil Whitticase and the rest of the board to bring in 2/3 quality, experienced players who can make a difference and help the younger players along. That needs to happen quickly and if it does, Cobb reckons he and a few others will stay, he said "we've had discussions on our contracts, we want some improvements from the board, the ball is in their court."

I can't believe we defended that, very good win, need to take confidence from this and finish the season on a high.

Foster will be the thorn as usual!

Looking at some of the quotes from the press release that Sarwan has returned home, it sounds like he might be back next season. I'll be on the verge of quitting LCCC if that happens until things change!

I think under a better coaching setup, and where he doesn't have pressure of captaining a poor side, Cobb will thrive in the one day format, not sure about LVCC. I'd like Robson to stay for at least 1 more season. Buck will struggle in the shorter form wherever he goes, he may be decent in LVCC Div 1 but he needs to continue developing. I'd like Greg Smith to stay too. Chesney Hughes I'm not sure about, he has that lazy West Indian element about him, we need 2/3 strong signings, he's a player we will probably be interested in though, the way we waste our money.

I wonder the same about Eckersley and the others who are out of contract soon, it's easy being picked by Leicestershire because we're shite, but you won't walk in to teams elsewhere, just like Wayne White has found out. Unless you have a genuine talent like Luke Wright, James Taylor and Harry Gurney (t20), you're going to struggle, and I don't think any of them have that. I can see Shiv batting well for Div 1 Championship and Cobb playing for England in t20, but that's it!

Also, the appalling way we managed his finger injury last year, which was also down to PW, could be a factor in him leaving.

Not sure who Thakor and Eckersley have signed for, but a friend who is usually spot on told me they definitely have.

The way Tom has been treated I'd be very surprised if he's on our books for much longer.

Tom Moores (son of Peter) is in our academy and asked to start playing 2nd XI cricket, which PW refused to let him play in, so Notts took him on a 1 month trial to play 2nd XI cricket for them and last week he hit a 100 vs our 2nd XI. That's the shambles that are running/ruining LCCC. Tom Moores will be the England keeper in 5 years, he's an incredible talent and we've just let him slip through PW's ineptness. Thakor and Eckersley have already signed elsewhere and Buck and Cobb are likely to move. It's beyond a joke, Mike Siddall is just as bad.

The club is being run so poorly, I'll elaborate when I get the chance, too tired at the moment.

Really don't know what Wells is doing in the team, he's not good enough for 50 over cricket yet. Buck got smashed around again, where were Taylor and Raine? Poor selection once again. Cobb injured too which doesn't help.