Australian contingent can help turn Leicestershire around
ESPNcricinfo assesses Leicestershire's prospects ahead of the 2015 season
Alan Gardner
04-Apr-2015
Niall O'Brien is now very experienced and has a key part to play in Leicestershire's revival • PA Photos
Last season
Championship: 9th Div 2; NatWest Blast: 8th North Group; Royal London Cup: 5th Group A
Championship: 9th Div 2; NatWest Blast: 8th North Group; Royal London Cup: 5th Group A
IN: Mark Cosgrove, Kevin O'Brien
OUT: Shiv Thakor (Derbyshire), Nathan Buck (Lancashire), Josh Cobb (Northants), Greg Smith (Nottinghamshire), Anthony Ireland, Michael Thornely (both released)
OVERSEAS: Clint McKay, Grant Elliot
OUT: Shiv Thakor (Derbyshire), Nathan Buck (Lancashire), Josh Cobb (Northants), Greg Smith (Nottinghamshire), Anthony Ireland, Michael Thornely (both released)
OVERSEAS: Clint McKay, Grant Elliot
2014 in a nutshell
Expectations were low and Leicestershire lived down to them. They became the first side since the 1930s to go consecutive seasons without a Championship win, and there was precious little encouragement in limited-overs cricket either. Things could have been different had they managed a victory early on but they drew their first three matches, despite being in charge of each. There was talent to be found at Grace Road but it was likely to be poached - four of Leicestershire's best players, in Nathan Buck, Josh Cobb, Greg Smith and Shiv Thakor, secured themselves contracts elsewhere rather than stick around. All this provided a clear mandate for change, with chief executive, Mike Siddall, and director of cricket, Phil Witticase, both moving on.
Expectations were low and Leicestershire lived down to them. They became the first side since the 1930s to go consecutive seasons without a Championship win, and there was precious little encouragement in limited-overs cricket either. Things could have been different had they managed a victory early on but they drew their first three matches, despite being in charge of each. There was talent to be found at Grace Road but it was likely to be poached - four of Leicestershire's best players, in Nathan Buck, Josh Cobb, Greg Smith and Shiv Thakor, secured themselves contracts elsewhere rather than stick around. All this provided a clear mandate for change, with chief executive, Mike Siddall, and director of cricket, Phil Witticase, both moving on.
2015 prospects
Arguably, it would be hard for them to be worse but, even so, there seems room for cautious optimism at the county, where Wasim Khan, the driving force behind Chance to Shine, has taken charge. Khan has already set the squad the target of achieving promotion - unlikely, perhaps, but his argument that "if we talk about finishing mid-table, we'll finish second-bottom" is at least a positive one. Former Australia international Andrew McDonald, who helped Leicestershire to their most recent success in the 2011 Friends Life t20, has been appointed as head coach, while the recruitment of Mark Cosgrove and Clint McKay adds experience, as well as further Australian grit. They need to make vast improvements but, as Khan says, "everybody starts on zero points in April".
Arguably, it would be hard for them to be worse but, even so, there seems room for cautious optimism at the county, where Wasim Khan, the driving force behind Chance to Shine, has taken charge. Khan has already set the squad the target of achieving promotion - unlikely, perhaps, but his argument that "if we talk about finishing mid-table, we'll finish second-bottom" is at least a positive one. Former Australia international Andrew McDonald, who helped Leicestershire to their most recent success in the 2011 Friends Life t20, has been appointed as head coach, while the recruitment of Mark Cosgrove and Clint McKay adds experience, as well as further Australian grit. They need to make vast improvements but, as Khan says, "everybody starts on zero points in April".
Power brokers
McDonald has never coached before - he was still playing during the Australian domestic season - but the 33-year-old is considered a shrewd thinker and was targeted as a replacement for Whitticase. He will join forces with Cosgrove, a team-mate at South Australia and Sydney Thunder, who takes up the captaincy in all three formats following the departures of Cobb and Ramnaresh Sarwan. Cosgrove has a British passport and knows the county circuit well from several seasons of heavy run-scoring with Glamorgan.
McDonald has never coached before - he was still playing during the Australian domestic season - but the 33-year-old is considered a shrewd thinker and was targeted as a replacement for Whitticase. He will join forces with Cosgrove, a team-mate at South Australia and Sydney Thunder, who takes up the captaincy in all three formats following the departures of Cobb and Ramnaresh Sarwan. Cosgrove has a British passport and knows the county circuit well from several seasons of heavy run-scoring with Glamorgan.
Key player
Cosgrove's belligerence and McKay's nous will be important, while newly appointed vice-captain Ned Eckersley might be expected to produce big runs after a disappointing 2014. But in the engine room, will be Niall O'Brien. The wicketkeeper ended up captaining the side last season and still only fell narrowly short of passing 1000 first-class runs for the first time in his career. Showed his class for Ireland at the World Cup and should be a vital cog in all formats for a developing Leicestershire side.
Cosgrove's belligerence and McKay's nous will be important, while newly appointed vice-captain Ned Eckersley might be expected to produce big runs after a disappointing 2014. But in the engine room, will be Niall O'Brien. The wicketkeeper ended up captaining the side last season and still only fell narrowly short of passing 1000 first-class runs for the first time in his career. Showed his class for Ireland at the World Cup and should be a vital cog in all formats for a developing Leicestershire side.
Bright young thing
Angus Robson, younger brother of Sam, is only 23 but last season he was Leicestershire highest Championship run-scorer with 1086. A few months younger is James Sykes, a tall slow left-armer with a crop of fiery red hair who also had an impressive 2014 - albeit for Leicestershire's 2nd XI. Sykes was integral to Leicestershire seconds winning a remarkable treble, finishing as their leading wicket-taker across the formats. Alongside former England U-19 offspinner Rob Sayer, he will provide competition for Jigar Naik.
Angus Robson, younger brother of Sam, is only 23 but last season he was Leicestershire highest Championship run-scorer with 1086. A few months younger is James Sykes, a tall slow left-armer with a crop of fiery red hair who also had an impressive 2014 - albeit for Leicestershire's 2nd XI. Sykes was integral to Leicestershire seconds winning a remarkable treble, finishing as their leading wicket-taker across the formats. Alongside former England U-19 offspinner Rob Sayer, he will provide competition for Jigar Naik.
ESPNcricinfo verdict
There seems to be a welcome verve about the new regime and Leicestershire might just be ready to silence some of the background chirruping about their status as a first-class county. The opening of a new cricket facility in the Leicester is proof of their commitment to bringing through talent and Khan has pledged to improve relations with the Asian community. If the Australian contingent can help improve results on the pitch, 2015 might be seen as a watershed year in the east Midlands.
There seems to be a welcome verve about the new regime and Leicestershire might just be ready to silence some of the background chirruping about their status as a first-class county. The opening of a new cricket facility in the Leicester is proof of their commitment to bringing through talent and Khan has pledged to improve relations with the Asian community. If the Australian contingent can help improve results on the pitch, 2015 might be seen as a watershed year in the east Midlands.
Bet365 odds: Championship 50-1, NatWest Blast 33-1, Royal London Cup 40-1
Alan Gardner is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. @alanroderick