Leics Champions

Leicestershire v Kent

15th-18th September 2025

Well, after sitting atop the Rothesay County Championship Division 2 since pretty much day one of the season, Leicestershire finally clinched the title with this draw with bottom of the table Kent.

Unfortunately, the elements made for an ever so slightly unsatisfying experience for a number of the Foxes fans.  Me included.

I knew the weather forecast was slightly ropey for the week, but nevertheless I travelled down from Caledonia looking to attend (or to be available to attend) all four days.  Although I was aware any play on Day 3 already looked extremely unlikely. 

Day 1

Monday dawned dry enough, but with the wind ominously howling around the eaves of my Rempstone B&B.  Ever the optimist I, nevertheless made my way to Grace Road.  There appeared no doubt that the wind had fairly effectively dried out the playing surface.  But, lunch came and went and the covers remained resolutely in place.  

Chatting to one of the ground staff, I learned the issue was not any residual wet in the outfield, but the high winds making it unsafe for the staff to physically move the large canvas covers.  With no let up in the wind forecast soon, play was abandoned for the day mid-afternoon.  

All perfectly understandable, but I did not understand why the situation could not have been explained fully to the attendees.  We are all left hanging about for hours when, given the high winds were forecast for all day, it was obvious to the ground-staff that no play would take place today.  A bit of communication goes a long way.

The groundstaff's hut was open, so I poked my camera in.

Autumn was well and truly here, and the high winds had brought down a wee harvest.

I hadn't noticed it before, but an old manual scoreboard still lurks behind the electronic one.

Day 2

No shortage of cricket on Day 2 by contrast as Leicestershire, put into bat, piled up the runs with Rishi Patel top scoring with 114, and both Shan Masood and Ben Cox reaching 90s.  

The hosts declared on 459/7, having harvested all five available batting bonus points.  The home support got their first view of new signing Stephen Eskinazi from Middlesex.  But the chap fell lbw to Joey Evison for just 22.

The Kent openers Ben Dawkins and Harry Finch then successfully negotiated the final nine overs of the day, to close their side on 17/0  
 

I think the plastic heron, was somebody's comment upon the dampness of the outfield. 

I decided to treat myself to the Charles Palmer Suite lunch.

It was nice enough, but £32.95 for a two-course lunch !!!

The coffee truly was as anaemic as this pic suggests.
Loadsa choccies, though.

Rishi Patel out for 114.

Day 3

Even before travelling down the A1, I had written this day off, as the forecast was for rain, rain and more rain. 

 
So, I decided to spend the day exploring Leicester itself.  To whit, The National Space Centre and Leicester Museum.  Finishing off the day with a trip into Derby to see Wishbone Ash.

   

The National Space Centre.

 

The River Soar ambles by.

The interesting looking Abbey Pumping Station is nearby.
But it was shut today.

Leicester Museum can be found in the city centre on New Walk. 

The three best things were the dinosaurs, the mummies and...

...Mr Benn.

Wishbone Ash at The Flowerpot, Derby.

Day 4

With so much time lost, it was clear this match was not going to be completed.  But, awakening to clear skies, I thought we should be able to get at least one session (possibly, even two) in before the inevitable draw was declared, and the title officially confirmed.

Arriving at Grace Road I, and perhaps a hundred or so other bods, were greeted with the wicket covering on, and a rather "a wet outfield", we were informed.  

OK, fair enough, it had bucketed down overnight.  But, why was there no activity on the pitch.  No-body attempting to clear away any of the water?  

We waited.  And waited.  An early lunch was taken.  But still none of the ground staff appeared remotely interested in making any effort to produce a playable surface.  Time passed.

Then, we learned Glamorgan's match down the road at Derbyshire had been drawn and, as Leics had therefore been confirmed as Division 2 Champions our match today would also be declared a draw.  About half the folks in the ground then made their way down to the front of the pavilion to acclaim the players' success, Whilst the other half wandered home, clearly disappointed at seeing no cricket.

I just sat at the opposite side of the ground for a spell.  In no hurry to start my long drive North, but similarly not really feeling I wanted to be part of the celebrations.

It all felt not a little bit flat.  Would it really have been so difficult for the players to have come out and played a session of what they are paid to do, as a thank you to the folks who had come along today?

Apparently so.

As an alien who had "adopted" Leicestershire CCC about a decade ago, I had enjoyed feeling part of the One Day Cup win a few years back.

Today, I just felt an alien again.