T20 Blast Essentials: Lancashire Lightning v Leicestershire Foxes

Match times, streaming information, tickets and travel, team news, head-to-head record, weather forecast, prediction, and everything else you need to know ahead of the Vitality T20 Blast match

Fixture: Lancashire Lightning v Leicestershire Foxes

Venue: Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester

Dates: Thursday, June 10, 2021

Start time: 6.30pm

What's the lowdown?

Lancashire welcome Leicestershire Foxes to Emirates Old Trafford as the latter get their T20 Blast underway.

The Foxes are the most successful side in the competition's history having won it three times and they will be confident in continuing that trend going into this opener. They fell agonisingly short of Finals day last year, when they crashed out to Notts in a tied quarter-final. Rather brutally, it fell the way of the Outlaws because they had scored more runs in the powerplay.

The Lighting will be an excellent test and indication of where Leicestershire are, as Lancashire's team is stacked to the hilt with talent and experience. Should the Foxes get off to a winning start, they will take that momentum and run with it as they return to their home ground on Friday to host Derbyshire - whom Lancashire beat comfortably in their opener on Thursday.

Who's in form?

Lancashire boast a variety of exceptional white ball cricketers, with England international's Liam Livingstone, Jos Buttler and Saqib Mahmood leading the charge. Adding to that the ever-improving leg spin of Matt Parkinson and the consistency at the top of the order from Alex Davies, this Lightning team look a threat from top to bottom.

All of this is without mentioning their import Finn Allen, the young Kiwi who took New Zealand's Super Smash by storm. At just 22 years of age, he is an electric young prospect who will be keen to boost his profile with an explosive T20 Blast.

It will be a battle of the spin twins, with newly appointed vice-captain, Callum Parkinson, coming up against his twin brother, Matt. His left-arm spin has impressed since he made the move to Leicestershire and his form in the middle overs will be key to Leicestershire's success.

Aaron Lilley was Leicestershire’s shining light in last year's competition, scoring 278 runs at a strike rate of 139. He will be getting his campaign off the mark against former side Lancashire and will want to prove that their loss is Leicestershire’s gain.

Last five T20 matches (most recent first)

Lancashire: LWLLW

Leicestershire: LWWLL

Head-to-head T20 record

Total matches: 31

Lancashire wins: 18

Leicestershire wins: 9

Tied: 2

No result: 2

Abandoned: 2

What's the team news?

Lancashire: Lancashire are unlikely to make changes to the side which beat Derbyshire. Jos Buttler remains available.

Lancashire squad: Dane Vilas, Finn Allen, Tom Bailey, Jack Blatherwick, Josh Bohannon, Jos Buttler, Steven Croft, Alex Davies, Richard Gleeson, Tom Hartley, Keaton Jennings, Danny Lamb, Liam Livingstone, Matt Parkinson, Luke Wood

Leicestershire: Paul Nixon has named a 14-man squad, which includes Naveen-ul-Haq and Josh Inglis. Scott Steel and Arron Lilley make their first matchday squad of the season.

Leicestershire squad: Colin Ackermann, Ed Barnes, Will Davis, Gavin Griffiths, Lewis Hill, Josh Inglis, Louis Kimber, Arron Lilley, Ben Mike, Naveen, Rishi Patel, Callum Parkinson, Scott Steel, Harry Swindells

Latest Lancashire news: Click here

Latest Leicestershire news: Click here

What's the weather forecast?

It’s a slightly overcast day in the north of England, but the sun will break through in time for the game to start. The temperature will be up around 21 degrees Celsius, so expect this game to heat up.

Keep up to date with the MetOffice's rolling forecast for Manchester: Click here

How do I follow the match?

TV/stream: The ECB are offering a streaming service which can be found here.

Radio: BBC Local Radio and the BBC Sport website will carry ball-by-ball radio commentary of the game.

Digital: The Cricketer will carry live scorecards and daily updates from every Vitality T20 Blast match in 2021, as well as the latest breaking news from around the counties and exclusive features. Visit our County Hub for more.

Going to the game?

Tickets

Lancashire versus Leicestershire will be played in front of a reduced crowd in line with the government's most recent Covid-19 guidelines.

Click here to visit the Lancashire box office.

Travel

Address: Lancashire Cricket Club, Emirates Old Trafford, Talbot Road, Manchester, M16 0PX

By car

From the North: Follow the M6, then M61 (signposted Manchester) to the junction with the M60 ring road. Join the M60 at junction 15, following signs for M60 ring road (West & South)/Trafford Park. Continue along the M602 to junction 3 and exit following signs for A5063 Salford Quays/Trafford Park. Continue along A5063, swinging left towards White City and continue along A5063 (White City Way), following brown signs for Old Trafford cricket ground.

From the South: Exit the M6 at junction 19 (Knutsford) onto A556 and keep following signs for M56/Manchester. Join the M56 at juntion 7 (signposted Manchester). At the end of the M56, the road becomes a dual carriageway (A5103 Manchester). Keep straight ahead for half a mile and then enter the left-hand lane to join the M60 ring road (following signs for Stretford). Continue along the M60 ring round (South) to junction 7 and then exit, following signs for A56/Stretford. Join the dual carriageway A56 Chester Road, following signs for Stretford and Manchester, and follow the brown signs to Old Trafford cricket ground.

Parking: The current Gatehouse at the Talbot Road entrance is no longer manned although there will still be a security presence between the hours of 7pm and 7am stationed within the Pavilion reception.

Unless you have bought a permit with a membership, parking will now be paid for from pay on foot machines that have been installed by the main entrance on Talbot Road and within the Trafford Cricket Centre reception, entrance located on Car Park 4.

This system may be suspended for certain matches where parking may be limited, and different matchday charges may apply. Spectators should check the Lancashire website prior to travel.

By train: Manchester Piccadilly, Deansgate Castlefield and Victoria all have access to tram stops, which will take you directly to the ground.

By tram: Metrolink runs every few minutes so you don’t need a timetable, you can just turn up and travel anytime from early morning til late in the evening.

For those visiting the region from further afield there is free parking for Metrolink customers at park and ride sites across the network.

Buy tickets at tram stops or by using the Get Me There app.

Nearest Tram stop: Old Trafford.

By bus: Manchester has a substantial bus network. Plan your journey to Old Trafford by clicking here.

Prediction?

Lancashire have an exceptionally strong side and look set to power through the North group. Leicestershire in comparison will have to be at their absolute best to cause an upset here. Home side victory.

OTHER T20 BLAST FIXTURES

North Group

Yorkshire Vikings v Birmingham Bears

South Group

Glamorgan v Gloucestershire

Middlesex v Surrey