The Toss: Foxes Face Huge Test Against Red Hot Favourites

There is no such thing as an easy game in Division One of the County Championship, but playing Surrey at the Oval is about as far away from one as you can get. A surprise second place finish to Nottinghamshire last year has done very little to damage Surrey’s reputation as the best county side in the country and Leicestershire will be desperate not to fall to consecutive losses to begin their season.

Off the back of a convincing loss to Sussex at home last week, beating Surrey would represent an extraordinary upset for the Foxes, but crazier things have happened in the County Championship. The sides last met in red ball cricket in 2021, during the Covid-affected Championship season, and played out two high scoring draws, but the equation is a highly different one this time around. Surrey boast a wealth of international talent in their ranks and have become somewhat of a juggernaut of county cricket in the meantime.

A second consecutive loss here for the visitors would make their next game against fellow promoted side, Glamorgan, a must win encounter. There is a possibility of rain around on Saturday and Monday and, if the Foxes play as they did against Sussex, many fans may find themselves doing rain dances around the streets of Leicester to gain anything from this game.