Since their fall from grace (no pun intended), Leicestershire have lost many top stars, including Jon Dakin and Aftab Habib to ourselfs. Every year the list of departing players gets bigger and the talent leaving makes you wonder just how long it'll be until the midlands outfit will follow Yorkshire and Somerset into division 2. I believe this could be the year.

The team that won 2 Championship title's in 3 season's between 96 and 98 was class. But, internal wranglings and feuds have lead to many class players leaving. The list includes Jon Dakin & Aftab Habib (to us), Alan Mullally (to Hampshire), Ian Sutcliffe (to Lancashire), Jimmy Ormond (to Surrey), Ben Smith (to Worcestershire) and more recently, the loss of their captain Vince Wells to Durham.

Another big name player to have left was top-draw wicketkeeper Paul Nixon to Kent. However, after disagreements at the Canterbury side, Nixon has returned to his former county.

The squad as a whole is unrecognisable from 5 years ago and is ageing all the time. New captain Phil DeFreitas is a former England star and although a player I admire, is getting towards his sell by date. Trevor Ward, Devon Malcolm and Darren Maddy are fallen heroes, while apart from Nixon, other signings Rupesh Amin from Surrey, Rob Cunliffe (from Gloucestershire in 2002), Charlie Dagnall (from Warwickshire in 2002 also) and David Masters (from Kent) won't be striking fear into opposition players.

Jeremy Snape has signed also from Gloucestershire and a player who will have much work to do in the spin department. He was unlucky to have lost his England one-day place because of injury and will be relied on.

Despite this, the overseas signings look excellent. India star batter Virender Sehwag is class and Aussie Brad Hodge is another very good batsman, but they alone won't be able to save the Grace Road club.

Darren Maddy topped the batting averages with 47.48 last year and although Michael Bevan averaged 63.36, the Aussie star only played 9 Championship matches. He isn't returning this season and he will be missed.

In the bowling last term, Darren Maddy took 43 wickets, while Devon Malcolm took a creditable 60. He'll need to do the same.

A 5th place finish in the Championship was followed by finishing just above the relegation zone in the Norwich Union League.

Bevan topped the one-day averages as well, although behind him was Darren Stevens (with an average of 38.90), an exciting young batsman who has yet to really fulfill his potential. Former Essex youngster Jamie Grove took 25 wickets last season in one-dayers, the best of the squad.

Within behind the scene problems bound to affect the dressing room and the ageing of most of the squad, you can only see one way for Leicestershire this term. Sehwag, Hodge, Stevens, Nixon, Snape and Malcolm are the players who will be expected to produce the goods and for me, a task to far.

SCIMITARS PREDICTION: No escaping again, relegation in both leagues.

ONE TO WATCH: Darren Stevens. Excellent stroke-maker and exciting to watch. Much will depend on the academy man in 2003.

WHEN WE MEET: Wed 30-Sat 3 May in Championship at Grace Road
                 Wed 23-Sat 26 July in Championship at Southend
                 Sun 27 July in National Cricket League at Southend
                 Sun 10 August in National Cricket League at Grace Road

What are your views?! Put your views on the message board or e-mail me, links below:

Date: 27/3/03

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