GREG BEAL (LHB, LM)
AGE: 28
DEBUT: 2017
TIME SPENT AT LEICS: 6 years
CONTRACT: 3 years, 47,500
Beal was signed to the club as a youth player and didn't really get to play much in his first three seasons. Averaging just 32.21 in four years and with his contract expiring at the end of the season, Beal went out as the Leics opener in 2022 and had a career best year averaging 60.93 first class runs while hitting 5 centuries and 11 fifties. His 213* was also a career high and cemented his place as one of the best opening batsmen in county cricket.
Beal was signed to a new contract and his good form followed him into 2023 where he lead Leicestershire to top place in the County Championship's 2nd Division. His average of 61.91 was even better than his break-out year, and his 7 centuries had him labelled as the best opener in England. No one in County Cricket scored as many first class centuries in 2023 as Beal, and his 1424 runs was second only to Indian veteran A. Jedhe.
TIMOTHEY OSBOURNE (RHB, OS)
AGE: 28
DEBUT: 2017
TIME SPENT AT LEICS: 6 years
CONTRACT: 3 years, 35,500
Timothey Osbourne was signed as a youth player in the same year as Greg Beal. It was Osbourne however who got the most chance to prove himself, playing 16 games and averaging 34.43 in his first year in county cricket. Osbourne showed all the potential in the World, but inconsistancy was his biggest problem and in the following few seasons struggled to maintain his 34 average, dropping down to 23 and nearly finding himself out of the squad. Much like Beal, it wasn't until 2022 where he stamped his authority with an average of 52.22 to go along with 2 centuries and 11 fifties.
Given the captaincy in 2023, Osbourne made a slow start to the season but gradually picked up steam and improved his average slightly to 52.90. He also showed alot of ability with the ball, taking 30 wickets in the 20/20 competition alone. Osbourne's 4 centuries was double that of the previous season, Osbourne retains the captaincy for 2024 where Leicestershire try and stay in the first division for the first time in 6 seasons.
MALCOLM FALLON (RHB, LS)
AGE: 23
DEBUT: 2023
TIME SPENT AT LEICS: 1 year
CONTRACT: 3 years, 25,000
Another youth player who burst onto the scene with an unbeaten 65* on his first class debut. Batting at number 6, Fallon was responsible for forming many great partnerships with players like Joseph Arkwright to save the team after the occassional slow start. At the age of 23, Fallon has a batting average of 58.12 with 10 fifties and a maiden century where he scored 103 before being bowled out. His 58.12 average saw him end the domestic season sitting 3rd in the country behind Jedhe and Beal. Surely an England spot is imminent.
JOSEPH ARKWRIGHT (RHB, WK)
AGE: 25
DEBUT: 2020
TIME SPENT AT LEICS: 3 years
CONTRACT: 1 year, 27,000
Arkwright was signed as a youth player to be the teams long term wicket keeper since Richard Fallon was always on England duties. Arkwright impressed everyone by scoring 115* in his debut as a 21 year old, and from there it seemed the cricketing World was his oyester. Things didn't quite go to plan... that season, despite the fantastic debut, was a disappointment all round where he struggled to average more than 20 and struggled to keep his place in the team. The next season was not much better, with his average rising marginally to 25.54 Arkwright still disappointed and generally got out before he even reached double digits and in 3 seasons had only 1 century to his name.
In 2023, Arkwright became the player that was expected of him. Retaining his spot in the team over the largely useless England international (???) Richard Fallon, Arkwright not only broke his century-less streak, he also became the highest scoring 'keeper in England. Averaging 54.71 and scoring 3 centuries, including a massive 156 in only 200 balls against Kent, Arkwright will undoubtedly be re-signed for next season and could even push Fallon out of the England team.
I've been playing this one game since I got ICC, so I figured I'd just write a little bit about some of the players. I've tried to bring in as many youth players as possible and try to make them good players, it's a hard process since a team of 19 year olds generally gets flogged but now things are starting to look up. Also a product of mass boredom. Mostly the boredom.
