Leicestershire County Cricket Club

[SMX11]

4 hours ago, CrawlingFox said:

I think that he was an excellent white ball bowler (sub 8 economy in t20) and whilst his bowling in red ball was never top drawer it was good enough to compliment a frontline spinner (which is what Rehan could be) on a spinning deck where 2 spinners would be warranted. Such a situation is rare in this country which is why he was again valuable with his batting average of 29.9 with 10 50s meaning he can more than hold a bat.

 

So for a county like us without the budget for a big squad he offers:

 

White ball bowling

Backup spinner

Batting depth

Great fielder

 

I think that's a useful and versatile skillset to have at our level.

We'll see if he gets another gig but I can't see anyone wanting him. Most effective in t20 but as I said previously he isn't good enough to be a main spinner in CC or anything above a lower order batsman. I sympathise with him pparently being ostracised as he could have contributed in the 50 over comp.

[MaidstoneFox]

11 hours ago, CrawlingFox said:

Losing Hill and Cox in one go is big drop in experience. Cox's grit has been all that stood between us and humiliation at many points this season. Trevaskis is a loss as well I think.

 

More positively Handscomb would plug that hole, experience wise and the drop to D2 means we should be looking to younger and hungrier players more than 30+ players in my opinion.

 

My side for next season:

 

Gumbs

Budinger

Ahmed

Shaikh

Handscomb (c)

Blake/Tattersall (wk)

Scriven

Holland

B.Green

Davey

A.Green

 

Worryingly there is only Hull in reserve bowling wise and Eskinazi batting wise, plus whichever keeper misses out - none of whom I rate highly right now. Also no spinner if Ahmed is away, which seems less likely for next season to be honest at least. Letting Trevaskis go is poor as he could bat too.

 

I think Gumbs is the most obvious player where the remaining overseas slot could be used to find an upgrade but we'd need to find a couple more seamers somewhere for depth either way.

 

If looking nearer for an opening bat then Savin Perera could be an excellent pick up if available, a lot of runs for SACA and in second XI cricket as well as some decent knocks for Somerset in the ODC.

It's a decent side. There's another overseas player to go in there, who could be a spinner or someone like de Swardt. We're a couple of squad players short, even if we loan one or two.

[Mark 'expert' Lawrenson]

On 29/09/2026 at 19:25, SemperEadem said:

But Henderson would not offer a new deal?

Henderson is supposed to be Director of Cricket but is clearly being directed himself by the master controller Thomas. 
 

[Bert]

Josh Blake signs. 

[Walshy5]

10 minutes ago, Bert said:

Josh Blake signs. 

Big boots to fill! Still really winds me up that we've lost one of the best wicket keepers in the country because of one man's ego! 😡

[Wsl]

He may be a revelation, but on the face of it it's a poor trade. We should have made every effort to keep Cox who more than proved his worth this season (and indeed we would have been undoubtedly relegated with far fewer points without him, and there's not many players in the squad you could say that about).

 

We've got someone who is 28. He's basically been playing for Sutton CC, a couple of winters in Australia, coaching (not a substitute for playing) and the Surrey Seconds. Basically he's only ever played at Surrey and it's like some actors in the Mousetrap - been in the company for years, but as they're an understudy, never get to go on stage.

 

He's played 8 first class matches. 8.

 

[Cakey]

7 minutes ago, Wsl said:

He may be a revelation, but on the face of it it's a poor trade. We should have made every effort to keep Cox who more than proved his worth this season (and indeed we would have been undoubtedly relegated with far fewer points without him, and there's not many players in the squad you could say that about).

 

We've got someone who is 28. He's basically been playing for Sutton CC, a couple of winters in Australia, coaching (not a substitute for playing) and the Surrey Seconds. Basically he's only ever played at Surrey and it's like some actors in the Mousetrap - been in the company for years, but as they're an understudy, never get to go on stage.

 

He's played 8 first class matches. 8.

 

Agreed. 

 

On another note Ahmed dropped by England. Fair on current form

[MaidstoneFox]

17 minutes ago, Cakey said:

Agreed. 

 

On another note Ahmed dropped by England. Fair on current form

Not good for us though from a financial point of view as he may not get his central contract renewed. He'll probably be more available for us next season but might also be looking to move elsewhere in a year's time to enhance his England hopes. His LCCC contract is up in 2027.

[DezFox]

Lose our best player.  replacement hugely underwhelming. **** thomas 

[Tommy Fresh]

Cox liking a comment on his leaving post wishing him well and being negative about Thomas is pretty funny 😂

[Cakey]

3 hours ago, MaidstoneFox said:

Not good for us though from a financial point of view as he may not get his central contract renewed. He'll probably be more available for us next season but might also be looking to move elsewhere in a year's time to enhance his England hopes. His LCCC contract is up in 2027.

He needs to drop down to 6 or 7 and bowl some serious overs to make any impact whatsoever, learning nothing batting at 3. He has been messed about by England but his own sake next year needs to buckle down and graft a bit. Show us then England the talent he has

[Cakey]

Also heard today from a now Ex players that play club cricket County looking at Asitha Fernando as overseas, came to Notts for a while. Dont know much about him

 Lets see