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County Championship Preview | Gloucestershire v Leicestershire

24 April 2025

The Seat Unique Stadium hosts Gloucestershire against Division Two leaders Leicestershire. Gloucestershire nearly forced a result in Canterbury with strong batting performances from debutant Cam Green and keeper James Bracey.

In 2025, across both Gloucestershire County Championship games against Leicestershire, the Shire scored 1,250 runs in just two innings. Gloucestershire’s batters will look forward to facing a bowling attack they scored 706 against, the first time Gloucestershire ever surpassed 700 runs in a single innings. 

Leicestershire are currently leading Division 2 so it will be a tough challenge for Gloucestershire’s men to get their first win of the season. However, a strong performance against second in the table Kent, mean Gloucestershire can go into this game feeling confident.

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TEAM NEWS

Mark Alleyne makes two changes to the squad that travelled to Kent, with Ajeet Singh Dale coming in to replace seamer Marchant de Lange, as well as Joe Phillips dropping from the squad due to 2XI commitments.

Your Gloucestershire Men's squad to face Leicestershire:

Cameron Bancroft (c), Zaman Akhter, James Bracey, Ben Charlesworth, Ajeet Singh Dale, Dom Goodman, Cameron Green, Miles Hammond, Ollie Price, Tom Price, Josh Shaw, Matt Taylor, Graeme van Buuren.

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OUR OPPONENTS

Leicestershire have had a great start to the season, despite only winning one game, leading the league on 54 points.

Former England player Rehan Ahmed has been started opening the batting - a tactic that has seen great success. Despite being best known for his bowling; opening the batting for the East Midland’s side Ahmed has a healthy average of 67.6 this season.  

From Melbourne to the Midlands, former Australian Test cricketer Peter Handscomb will be a familiar face to our fans as Peter was part of our 2015 squad. In Leicestershire’s last fixture Hanscombe scored an unbeaten 142*, playing a huge part in Leicestershire’s valuable batting points.

USA international Ian Holland leads Leicestershire’s bowling attack taking 13 wickets in three games. Holland’s control and patience means he has the third most maiden overs in the division - something Gloucestershire’s batters will look to challenge.

LAST MEETING

The last time Gloucestershire hosted Leicestershire the game was a high scoring draw. The men from the Midlands put on 402, followed by an enormous 544 by Gloucestershire.

76% of that total were put on by James Bracey and Ben Charlesworth, with Charlesworth scoring 210 and Bracey scoring an unbeaten 207*. The two sides’ time at the crease meant a draw was inevitable but not unprecedented.

Earlier that season, Gloucestershire scored 706/6d which broke a 20 year record for Gloucestershire’s highest ever total. Hundreds came from numerous individuals including Cameron Bancroft, Ben Charlesworth and Graeme Van Buuren. Whilst both County Championship games ended in a draw, Gloucestershire can certainly look back fondly in their last few meetings with the Foxes.

TICKET & VISITOR INFORMATION

Gloucestershire face Leicestershire in the County Championship at the Seat Unique Stadium at 11am on Friday 25 April.

Advance tickets are available online, and on the gate for all four days of this County Championship fixture.

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VISITOR INFORMATION

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