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Post by Admin on Jul 30, 2020 12:23:47 GMT
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Post by Admin on Jul 31, 2020 14:52:19 GMT
Here we go. After a trio of two-day friendlies, including an intra-squad friendly, the competition proper begins with the Bob Willis Trophy and the first of five group games.
Lancashire and Leicestershire are familiar foes having played each other twice in last season’s County Championship Division Two.
In fact, the Foxes were the only side who the Red Rose did not beat on the way to a landslide title-winning campaign and promotion.
This behind-closed-doors match is being played at Blackfinch New Road, Worcester, owing to a combination of challenges presented by the city of Leicester’s coronavirus-enforced lockdown and the use of Emirates Old Trafford as a bio-secure international venue.
This is the first of three Lancashire home fixtures, the other two being at Emirates Old Trafford and Liverpool.
TEAM NEWS
Lancashire will be without Saqib Mahmood after his selection in England’s One-Day International squad for the ongoing Ireland series in Southampton.
Richard Gleeson and Liam Livingstone were named as reserves for that series and, as a result, are also unavailable to begin the season with their county.
James Anderson and Jos Buttler re-enter the bio-secure bubble at Emirates Old Trafford on Sunday ahead of the first Test against Pakistan.
OPPOSITION
Leicestershire finished bottom of the pile in 2019, winning only one of their 14 games.
That win actually came in their first game of the campaign, a seven-wicket victory over pre-season promotion favourites Sussex at Hove, so they are nearly 16 months without a four-day win to their name.
But, as Lancashire found out last year, they are by no means pushovers, with the Foxes securing a pair of draws against them.
Ex-Lancashire Championship winner Paul Horton remains part of their squad, but he has handed over the four-day captaincy to South African batsman Colin Ackermann.
They could also include Gavin Griffiths, Arron Lilley, Callum Parkinson and Harry Dearden, all players with Red Rose links.
They also recruited all-rounder George Rhodes from Worcestershire in the off-season.
PREVIOUS MEETING
These two sides played out weather affected draws at Liverpool and Grace Road last year, the latter coming in the final week of the 2019 season when twins Matthew and Callum Parkinson famously dismissed each other lbw in the first innings.
A horrible week weather wise across the country ruined any chance of victory.
Leicestershire were bowled out for 155 in the first innings, with Richard Gleeson taking a fabulous 6-43 - three of his wickets bowled.
But, in reply, Lancashire could only manage a lead of 15 as they were bowled out for 170. Steven Croft’s 44 was the feature innings, although Championship debutant Liam Hurt added 38 down the order to recover the visitors from 94-7.
In Leicester’s second innings, they solidly advanced to 191-3 to wrap up the summer. Highly-rated opener Hassan Azad finished 83 not out, and Lancashire will have to be wary of his capabilities again this weekend.
WHAT THEY SAID
Dane Vilas wants a rapid start from his Lancashire side at the home of Worcestershire this weekend.
Lancashire are using New Road as a home away from home to begin their Bob Willis Trophy North Group campaign with a meeting with Leicestershire.
It is the first of five North Group game, with only top place in the six-team pool having any chance of advancing to the early October final.
The two best placed winners from the three groups will advance to the final, meaning there is little room for manoeuvre. If you are slow out of the blocks over the next week or two, it could be effectively season over.
But confident captain Vilas does not expect that to be a problem for the Red Rose for a couple of reasons. One, the quality of their performances in four-day cricket last season. Two, the quality of their preparation over the last couple of months.
Vilas said: “Everybody was raring to go, and it was a shame we lost that momentum (from last year) after such a good pre-season.
“But we’ve been fortunate that Lancs as a club have looked after us really well, and we are desperate to get going again.
“We started training a lot earlier than most counties, so we’ve got a nice run up to it. Everybody looks like they’re in good form - hitting the ball well and bowling nicely. We are confident. Hopefully we can have another good season like we did last year.
“We played them twice and they were the only side we didn’t beat. It just shows you have to be up for every game. They are a good outfit.
“I think the way the ECB have done this competition is fantastic. It’s a great opportunity to play some competitive cricket - five games and then a final, potentially at Lord’s.
“There would be no better incentive than a final at Lord’s, and we are desperate to win the group.
“But we know it’s going to be a tough group. We need to make sure we get off to a good start because it’s only five games.”
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Post by Admin on Jul 31, 2020 15:46:19 GMT
Lancashire Cricket have announced a 14-man squad for the opening Bob Willis Trophy match against Leicestershire at Blackfinch New Road.
There is set to be at least one First-Class debutant for the Club, with four players yet to feature for Lancashire in the format.
George Balderson, Tom Hartley and Ed Moulton have all played regularly for the Club’s Second XI, while Luke Wood looks set to make his first competitive Lancashire appearance after joining from Nottinghamshire during the winter.
PREVIEW
Lancashire squad
Dane Vilas (c), Tom Bailey, George Balderson, Josh Bohannon, Steven Croft, Alex Davies, Tom Hartley, Liam Hurt, Keaton Jennings, Rob Jones, Danny Lamb, Ed Moulton, Graham Onions, Luke Wood.
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Post by Admin on Jul 31, 2020 15:47:30 GMT
Leicestershire from 13: Hassan Azad, Ben Slater, Harry Dearden, Colin Ackermann (C), George Rhodes, Harry Swindells (wk), Tom Taylor, Ben Mike, Callum Parkinson, Arron Lilley, Dieter Klein, Will Davis, Chris Wright.
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Post by lancsdes on Jul 31, 2020 21:25:17 GMT
No Gavin Griffiths clearly
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Post by werneth on Aug 1, 2020 8:51:31 GMT
No Gavin Griffiths clearly True but he has just signed a new two-year contract, so presumably they see him more as a one-day bowler (sorry, I forgot you're supposed to say 'white ball' these days). |
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Post by apm51054 on Aug 1, 2020 9:45:00 GMT
Lancs win toss bat, Balderson, Moulton and Hartley make debuts
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Post by chris on Aug 1, 2020 11:48:30 GMT
Lancs win toss bat, Balderson, Moulton and Hartley make debuts |
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Post by lancsdes on Aug 1, 2020 11:53:45 GMT
No Gavin Griffiths clearly “ True but he has just signed a new two-year contract, so presumably they see him more as a one-day bowler (sorry, I forgot you're supposed to say 'white ball' these days).” Thanks Werneth. Didn’t know and pleased he’s got two years. I never really had high hopes for him as a championship bowler. Off to watch a bit of Rainhill v Rainford now. |
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Post by Admin on Aug 1, 2020 17:09:25 GMT
4 Day • 1 August 2020 Blackfinch New Road, Worcester
Day 1 - Lancashire won the toss and elected to bat
Lancashire
265/6 (90)
Leicestershire
Summary
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Post by Admin on Aug 1, 2020 17:13:07 GMT
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Post by Admin on Aug 1, 2020 18:50:14 GMT
A fifth-wicket partnership of 130 between Dane Vilas and Steven Croft helped Lancashire recover to 265-6 on the opening day of their Bob Willis Trophy match against Leicestershire at Blackfinch New Road.
Captain Vilas led the way for the Red Rose county after they had been reduced to 97-4 shortly after lunch, hitting 14 fours in his 90 before edging a drive off Tom Taylor to slip, where Hassan Azad hung on.
It was redemption of sorts for Azad, who failed to pick up an earlier chance given by Vilas off the same bowler when he was on just 28.
The morning had seen Leicestershire make Lancashire's batsmen work hard for their runs after Vilas had won the toss and chosen to bat.
Both sides fielded debutants, with batsman Ben Slater - signed on a two-week loan from Nottinghamshire - making his first start for the Foxes, while all-rounder George Balderson and bowlers Tom Hartley and Ed Moulton were included for Lancashire.
It was the first time Lancashire had given three players a debut in the same match since 2002.
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Post by apm51054 on Aug 1, 2020 20:46:36 GMT
Lancs win toss bat, Balderson, Moulton and Hartley make debuts Suspect squad rotation |
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Post by chris on Aug 1, 2020 21:36:01 GMT
Hurt, Onions and Wood played both the 2 day warm ups (and intra-squad) but miss out. All (!) injured? Suspect squad rotation Doubt it, before the season started!
3 of the 4 most experienced bowlers are deemed to need a rest after completing pre-season. Hurt may have only one first class game behind him for Lancashire but he would still add experience to an attack of: Bailey Moulton Lamb Bohannon
Balderson plus Hartley If it was squad rotation those three didn't need to play all three pre-season friendlies. And didn't need to travel to Worcestershire.
Much more likely to be injuries.
Wood didn't bowl against Yorkshire, and so maybe failed his fitness test against Derbyshire. I notice club did not produce a scorecard even though it was a home game against Derbyshire.
Onions and / or Hurt could easily have strained something against Derbyshire (and the club were hoping they would recover in time)
Presumably Lester is already injured otherwise why would he miss the whole of pre-season?
Secrecy still head of the agenda at Old Trafford. Perhaps not secrecy, but simply an inbred feeling that they don't have to communicate about player fitness, in case of criticism.
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Post by chris on Aug 1, 2020 21:46:40 GMT
A fifth-wicket partnership of 130 between Dane Vilas and Steven Croft helped Lancashire recover to 265-6 on the opening day of their Bob Willis Trophy match against Leicestershire at Blackfinch New Road. Captain Vilas led the way for the Red Rose county after they had been reduced to 97-4 shortly after lunch, hitting 14 fours in his 90 before edging a drive off Tom Taylor to slip, where Hassan Azad hung on. It was redemption of sorts for Azad, who failed to pick up an earlier chance given by Vilas off the same bowler when he was on just 28. The morning had seen Leicestershire make Lancashire's batsmen work hard for their runs after Vilas had won the toss and chosen to bat. Both sides fielded debutants, with batsman Ben Slater - signed on a two-week loan from Nottinghamshire - making his first start for the Foxes, while all-rounder George Balderson and bowlers Tom Hartley and Ed Moulton were included for Lancashire. It was the first time Lancashire had given three players a debut in the same match since 2002.Yes but... Hartley, Moulton and Balderson don't exactly have the same experience as Law, Byas and Swann back in 2002. Not really an exact comparison. Hogg made his championship debut in the same match.
So first time since who knows when that Lancashire had given three first-class debuts in the same competitive match.
Croft, Smith and Cross debuted together in 2005 but against a bunch of students at Oxford in a friendly. Marshall made his FC debut for Lancashire in that match but had previous first class experience. |
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