Leicestershire 2026 One Day Cup Preview

Written by Andy Moore (The Fox)

2025 Review:

League Position: 7th in Group A

Top Runscorer: Shan Masood - 400 runs

Top Bowler: Alex Green - 18 wickets

Top Points Scorer: Ben Cox - 710 points

Leicestershire went into last season's Metro Bank One-Day Cup hoping to build on some encouraging performances in previous years, but the campaign never really found any momentum. Two wins from seven completed matches left the Foxes seventh in Group A, with only Surrey and Glamorgan finishing below them, and there was a feeling that they were never quite able to put together a settled side or build any confidence as the tournament progressed.

There were still moments of quality, most notably Sol Budinger's superb century against Nottinghamshire and the emergence of Alex Green as one of the competition's standout young fast bowlers, but those individual performances could not disguise what was ultimately a frustrating campaign. For a club that lifted the trophy in 2023, expectations had understandably risen, making last year's seventh-place finish feel all the more disappointing.

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The Fox 2026 One Day Cup Preview - Fantasy Cricket Banker, Wildcard & Young Gun

There is a different feel surrounding Leicestershire heading into this year's competition. The squad has evolved considerably over the past 12 months and, although The Hundred could again deprive counties of several players, the Foxes should still field a side containing a healthy blend of experienced professionals and exciting young talent. The tournament also arrives at an interesting time for the club. With Rishi Patel's departure to Hampshire already confirmed for the end of the season, this competition offers an opportunity for others to begin staking their claim for a more prominent role in 2027.

It is also another chance for some of the club's emerging bowlers to prove they can become regular first-team players. Leicestershire may not begin the tournament among the favourites, but they have enough quality to improve significantly on last year's showing if they can find greater consistency with both bat and ball.

Banker: Ian Holland

If there is one player Leicestershire can almost always rely upon to influence a 50-over match, it is Ian Holland. His value lies not simply in his statistics but in his versatility. He is capable of taking the new ball, controlling the middle overs, closing out an innings and then contributing valuable runs lower down the order. Fifty-over cricket often rewards intelligent cricketers rather than spectacular ones, and Holland has built his career on making consistently good decisions. Every successful One-Day Cup side needs players who contribute in every discipline, and few county all-rounders do that as reliably as the experienced Fox.

Wildcard: Ben Green

Ben Green feels the perfect wildcard because his ceiling is exceptionally high. On his day he can change a game with either bat or ball, whether that is by producing a rapid fifty, breaking a partnership or finishing with three or four wickets. The challenge throughout his career has been consistency. There are spells where Green looks one of the finest seam-bowling all-rounders on the county circuit and others where his impact is more limited. If Leicestershire are to make a serious run towards the knockout stages, a strong tournament from Green could be one of the biggest factors in determining how far they go.

Young Gun: Alex Green

After bursting onto the scene in last year's competition with 18 wickets, including three five-wicket hauls, Alex Green heads into this year's One-Day Cup with considerably greater expectations than he did 12 months ago. The tall quick bowler has continued his development since then and now looks firmly established as one of the brightest young seam bowlers in county cricket. With genuine pace, bounce and the ability to make life uncomfortable for even experienced batters, the competition offers another ideal stage for him to demonstrate that his breakthrough was no flash in the pan. If he can reproduce anything like last year's form, Green could once again be one of the tournament's standout performers.

Leicestershire One Day Cup Squad

Leicestershire One Day Cup Squad

Potential Starting XI:

1. Rishi Patel

2. Sheridon Gumbs

3. Ian Holland

4. Jonny Tattersall

5. Stevie Eskinazi

6. Ben Cox

7. Ben Green

8. Liam Trevaskis

9. Josh Davey

10. Josh Hull

11. Alex Green