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Leicestershire will be hosting Gloucestershire in the next round of Group 2 fixtures in the County Championship 2021 season at the Grace Road, Leicester, on Thursday (June 3).
Leicestershire will take on Gloucestershire in this next Group 2 fixture of the County Championship round. The contest between the group leaders and the bottom-placed team will be important to both the teams for different reasons.
Leicestershire have had a horror run in the season so far, with three losses from six matches. They haven’t been able to register a single win and are reeling at the bottom of the Group 2 points table with 51 points, courtesy of three draws. Leicestershire are currently fighting for a draw in the ongoing match against Middlesex as they need 303 runs more to win on the last day.
On the other hand, Gloucestershire have been in a glorious run of form as they’ve remained unbeaten in the championship season. Gloucestershire are currently sitting at the top of the Group 2 standings with 105 points with the help of four wins and two draws. Even though they’re separated from the second and third place by a narrow margin, they’ve played one less game. As we speak, Gloucestershire are staring at the first defeat as they’re 5 wickets down in their second innings while still trailing by 191 runs against Surrey.
The contest between these two contrasting teams could yet be exciting. Leicestershire will be desperate for a win after an awful season, while a win for Gloucestershire will strengthen their top 2 position in the Group 2 standings.
Key Players
Lewis Hill has been the backbone of Leicestershire’s batting unit this season. For years, Hill hadn’t lived up to the expectations and even lost his claim as the first-choice wicket-keeper in the side. The right-hand batter has turned things around and has piled up 541 runs in seven games in the County Championship 2021 while averaging 54.10. Hill has been rock solid in the middle order, registering one century and four half-centuries, including the highest score of 121 against Gloucestershire in the previous fixture. Lewis Hill will need to put up another such performance if Leicester are to end the victory drought.
Craig Wright, the 35-year-old seamer, has been the lone warrior for Leicestershire in this season as far as bowling is concerned. The right-arm medium pacer has taken 28 scalps in the season so far, with an average of 23.28. Incidentally, Wright’s best bowling figures came against Gloucestershire only in the previous fixture, where he picked 7/53 in an innings. He has maintained his good form throughout the competition, and Leicestershire will be hoping that he delivers once again. Wright has rich experience in the first-class cricket, with 485 wickets in 170 matches.
Ever since he moved to Gloucestershire in 2017, Ryan Higgins has become one of the biggest assets of the team. The 26-year-old all-rounder is the leading wicket-taker for Gloucestershire this edition with 33 wickets from seven games. Higgins has maintained an astonishing average of 18.93, with the best bowling of 5/62. Displaying his all-round value, Higgins has added crucial 244 runs with the bat in the lower middle order in 10 innings, with the highest score of 73. The all-rounder has an impressive record in first-class cricket, scoring over 2000 runs at an average of 34.22 and picking up 156 wickets at 21.16 runs per wicket.
David Payne has been just as potent with the ball in hand as his partner Higgins. The left-arm pacer has taken 24 wickets in five championship games at a terrific average of 19.50, with the best of 6/56. Payne has registered two 5-wicket hauls in the season and has gone on to pick 10 wickets in the match once he took 5/31 & 6/56 against Middlesex. He has continuously troubled the batters with the angle and movement. Gloucestershire will be expecting him to carry his form forward. David Payne is just two wickets away from entering the 300-wicket club in the FC cricket.
Prediction
Gloucestershire have absolutely dominated the rivalry against Leicestershire with four wins and a draw in the last five contests between the two sides. Earlier in the 2021 season, Gloucestershire defeated the visitors by four wickets by chasing 348 in the fourth innings.
Leicestershire batters have put up good totals on the board time. However, their bowling has been a major issue in the competition. For instance, apart from Craig Wright, none of their bowlers averages below 25. Their second and third highest wicket-takers average over 40 runs per wicket.
Gloucestershire’s batting is depleted due to the unavailability of James Bracey, who has carried their batting lineup so far but has now been called up in the England Test squad. However, their bowling attack has been in red-hot form. Gloucestershire is likely to continue their dominance over Leicestershire and get an away win in Leicester.
