Leicestershire vs Gloucestershire, County Championship Division Two, Today Match Prediction 03 September 2023

leic vs glo Match Prediction & Analysis

We are in the last leg of the County Championship Division Two 2023. Leicestershire will look to improve their position on the points table as they take on Gloucestershire in the 44th game. Both teams are coming here with losses, and they lost to Worcestershire by 100 runs and 110 runs, respectively.  

Gloucestershire's players have struggled with their consistency this year. The side hasn't won after playing 11 games, and their confidence is low. Leicestershire had won the previous game between the two sides and will look to make good use of the home advantage. It will be interesting to see how Gloucestershire's players approach this contest. 

TEAMS PREVIEW

Leicestershire Preview

After a decent start, Lewis Hill's side has lost steam midway into the season. It was a poor show from their batsmen in the last game against Worcestershire, where they lost by 100 runs. They are playing at home and had defeated Gloucestershire earlier in the season. Hill would like his players to take inspiration from that win and do well here.  

The side will expect a good start in this game from Rishi Patel and Louis Kimber at the top. They have an experienced middle order where Lewis Hill, Colin Ackermann, and Peter Handscomb have an important role to play. Wiaan Mulder, Rehan Ahmed, and Chris Wright are good batters, and they must add runs in the lower middle order.    

The side shall want Chris Wright and Matt Salisbury to do well with the new ball and put Gloucestershire batsmen under pressure. Wiaan Mulder has a lot of experience and will look to do well in the middle with Tom Scriven. They have depth in the bowling line-up and expect good spells from Ackermann, Rehan Ahmed, and Callum Parkinson.

Leicestershire Predicted Playing XI:

Lewis Hill (c), Rishi Patel, Louis Kimber, Colin Ackermann, Peter Handscomb (wk), Wiaan Mulder, Rehan Ahmed, Tom Scriven, Chris Wright, Callum Parkinson, Matt Salisbury

Gloucestershire Preview

Graeme van Buuren will return to the side after nursing an injury. The side has struggled this season, and after 11 games, they are still searching for their first win. In the last game, they went down against Worcestershire by 110 runs. They had lost to Leicestershire earlier, and van Buuren will look for a better show from his players.  

The side will need a good start from Chris Dent and Joe Phillips in this contest as they will face a good bowling attack. Oliver Price has done well and will look to build partnerships with Miles Hammond and Graeme van Buuren. James Bracey and Jack Taylor must do well in the lower middle order for the side to be in a winning position.  

The bowling attack hasn't done well for the side this year, and they need a good show from Matt Taylor and Tom Price with the new ball. Paul van Meekeren is the side's most important bowler and must do well with Zafar Gohar and Zaman Akhter. Graeme van Buuren and Oliver Price must do well in the supporting role. 

Gloucestershire Predicted Playing XI:

Graeme van Buuren (c), Chris Dent, Oliver Price, Miles Hammond, Joe Phillips, James Bracey (wk), Jack Taylor, Zafar Gohar, Tom Price, Zaman Akhter, Paul van Meekeren

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

There are predictions for cloudy skies at Leicester. There would be some early movement for the bowlers, but the track will be good to bat on as batsmen adjust to the conditions. The side that bats first in the game would have to score 350 runs in the first innings to feel confident.

Venue Details

Grace Road, Leicester, is a good ground for the batsmen. The flat pitch and the fast outfield have made scoring runs easy. Though the fast bowlers get some assistance in the initial overs, it is easy to bat on this wicket once the ball loses its shine. Spinners haven't fared well on this track. 

Toss: To Bowl

We expect overcast conditions during this game. The wicket will be challenging to bat on at the start of the game. The side winning the toss shall look to take advantage of the conditions by opting to bowl first.