Leicestershire 2006 Season

Never mind these fancy dans with their international grounds and all that nonsense. If you want to get back to proper grass roots cricket then you need to be supporting a club like Leicestershire.

 The humble, yet quaint, surroundings of Grace Road are a lovely place to watch a days cricket in the sun and get up close to the action. Here are a few photo highlights from a couple of the more memorable days of last season;

No Matty, I said give me a SMILE
(he did sign this photo for me a few weeks later though )

Yeah, you show him how it's done mate

Just what do you think you are doing with those hands?

Oi mate, you're rubbish you are (oh, and get your hair cut)

The big boys won't let poor little Shane play

Am I the only one concerned about what he might be looking at?
(got this one signed too)

5-0 you say?

ulp...please don't hit me

Legend

Highlights this season are set to include 3 day fixtures against both Pakistan and a West Indies A team, whilst a lots of us are eagerly anticipating the visit of Lancashire in the T20 cup, not to mention our opening Championship fixture against “oh look how the mighty have fallen” Surrey.

A new coach in former England backroom Tim Boon will bring much needed fresh thinking to the team, and already has shown signs of being keen to take us in a new direction with a surprise choice as new skipper.

Our hopes for the season will be focussed on the one day games. Leicestershire have been the most consistently successful side in the 3 years of the T20 competition and only just missed out on promotion in the Totesport last season. In terms of the Championship and form of consistent performance would be an improvement, although promotion would come as a surprise to us all I think.

Edited by Clobber

The squad at the time of writing;

Jeremy Snape (Captain)

A man who flirted with the England squad a few years ago was a surprise choice as captain given that he hasn’t been in the Championship side for the last couple of seasons, being considered a one day specialist. As a bowler he depends on variations in flight rather than any great spin, and any Snapper fan could tell you all about Moon Balls and Darts. A handy guy to bat at No 6 in the limited overs games it remains to be seen how he will do getting back into the 3 dayers, but should be a good captain.

Darren Robinson

Managing to get through almost all of last season without injury did wonders for Robinson who wound up as the club’s leading run scorer, and indeed only shining light during a grim few months in the Championship. A gritty, dependable performer at the top of the order.

Darren Maddy

A season to forget in first class cricket was at least partially offset by some decent one day performances. Maddy harbours genuine hopes of getting in the England ODI side so this season needs some major performances from the undisputed king of Twenty20. This is also Darren’s benefit season (which I’ll explain in another post) and thus a special time for him.

HD Ackerman

No great surprise that he stepped down from the captaincy once an uninspiring season ended up with him almost getting into a fight with spectators. Showed brief flashes of his ability with the bat and will be looking to deliver more consistently.

Dinesh Mongia

Another seeking consistency, not to mention some headline grabbing performances to help reignite his international career. Undoubtedly talented he frustrated at times last year when he really looked like he didn’t care less what was going on, yet when shaken from his torpor delivered some memorable innings. He has promised to really show what he is made of this season, and his bowling is a bonus in the shortened version.

John Sadler

A little guy who hits the ball a long way Sads had finally established himself in the side last year when injury at the hands of Brett Lee put paid to the one time England U19 player’s season. Increasing consistency in the first class games combined with big hitting in the one dayers makes him an integral part of the squad now, and his absence was a big factor in the Foxes losing the T20 semi final.

John Maunders

Another former England U19 player, and a young man in need of a big season. A championship century late last season may well have saved his career but now he needs to kick on and make the most of the chances that will come his way. His bowling last year was a revelation and he will be looking to develop this side of his game.

Aftab Habib

If it seems a long since Aftab was in the England team, that’ll be because it was! Having been offered a lifeline to return to Leicestershire last season he endured a nightmare first half of the season when he couldn’t buy a run then was ruled out with injury. Fortunately for him (and his career) he returned to score well in the second half of the year, but he’ll need to make the most of his chances to stay in the team.

Jim Allenby

Qualifies as a domestic player despite his Australian birth he was seen only briefly last season. A tortuous innings in the T20 semi didn’t do him any favours, but he is a stylish batsman likely to feature in the one day side where he will be looking to make an impression.

Tom New

Yet another one time England U19 lad, the 21 year old has been one of the great white hopes of Grace Road for some time. A talented keeper who can bat at 3 in the Championship as well as frequently opening in the Sunday League he should have far more opportunities to make the keeping slot his own this year.

Paul Nixon

Nicko is a popular man at the club – a solid keeper who keeps the team alive in the field and a tough batsman who specialises in digging his side out of holes, as well as innovative hitting at the end of a one-day innings. He is homing in on 36 years old though and will presumably passing the torch to New as the season progresses.

Stuart Broad

If one thing provided any joy last season to Leics fans it was the emergence of Stuart Broad. Son of former England batsman Chris, the 6’5 19 year old is one of the hottest bowling prospects in the country. Generating sharp bounce, as befits his height, combined with seam movement he proved well at home when eased into the side, as well as delivering high class performances for England U19’s he earned a call up to the England A squad recently and is a name to watch. Oh and he can bat too.

Claude Henderson

A former Test player, the big South African spinner plays a key role on the slow Grace Road track. Not a big ripper of the ball, he specialises in control and is a dependable figure for the seam bowlers to work around.

Ryan Cummins

First season proper for Ryan who was called up from Loughborough University last year to help cover an injury crisis, and made a sufficiently good impression to be offered a contract. Likely to get his chances during the season.

David Masters

Settled very nicely into the side last season and established himself as a key art of the seam attack. A whole hearted performer his commitment was valuable throughout the season and with the likes of Willoughby, Dagnall, Gibson and Brignull having all moved on he now has the opportunity to become one of the main men.

Mohammed Asif

Arguably the most exciting overseas signing in the country this year. Leics bagged Asif before he had come back into the Pakistan side and became the most promising young bowler in world cricket. The thought of what he might achieve on seaming tracks and heady conditions is mouth watering, albeit slightly tempered by the fact he’ll be off to join the Pakistan squad before the season is half over.

Other squad players;

Matthew Boyce, Chris Liddle, Marc Rosenberg, Paul Harrison

Edited by Clobber

Good reading. I am working on a squad profile of my own as we speak but you beat me to it

Same happened to me - re-open the links in a new window, that worked for me.

What browser are you using?

that's not your browser mate that's your ISP - do you use Internet Explorer, Firefox or A N Other to view web pages?

try right clicking on one of the photo links and select Open In A New Window

Right, I've just tried in IE, the only thing I can think of (and this works) is to right click the links, Save Target As, then save onto your hard disk and look at them that way.

but well worth it to see those visual masterpieces 

The Foxes spring into first class action tomorrow with a warm up 3 day match against Loughborough University. With Asif bizarrely thinking that playing for Pakistan against India is a more important game, and Mongia, Maddy and Ackerman all being held back there is a chance for the second string batsmen to lay down some markets for the season ahead.

Also of interest is the appearance of Paul Harrison for Loughbough, the wicketkeeper batsmen having recently joined the Leics playing staff after impressing in the 2nd XI.

The game starts at 11.00am on Wednesday with admission free.

Leicestershire: D. Robinson, J. Maunders, J. Sadler, A. Habib, J. Allenby, J. Snape (capt), T. New (wkt), C. Henderson, D. Masters, R. Cummins, C. Liddle

Loughborough: R. Clinton, D Shirazi, E. Foster, W. Gifford (capt), C. Murtagh, P. Harrison (wk), R. King, R. Morris, D. Wainwright, D. Miller, R. Braithwaite

I might if the weathers good.

it's dull and drizzling a bit at the moment. I don't know if they're still going to play.

no problem mate, but I won't be going up to Leicester unless I am certain I'll see some play

the usual season opener I am afraid!!

Day's Report

erm, it rained.

A lot.