Cricket Dec 07, 2025

County Championship cricket: Leicestershire promoted to Division One after over 20 years in second tier

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
County Championship cricket: Leicestershire promoted to Division One after over 20 years in second tier

Leicestershire will play in the top flight of the County Championship for the first time in over two decades after sealing a long-awaited promotion.

The Foxes were relegated from Division One in 2003 after finishing bottom and have featured in the second tier ever since.

Leicestershire were the only team yet to be promoted since the Championship split into two divisions in 2000 but ended that hoodoo after a

That result, coupled with the , means the Midlanders cannot now finish outside the top two.

Leicestershire ended up bottom of Division Two eight times between 2009 and 2022 and in four of those seasons they failed to win a match, registering back-to-back winless campaigns in 2013 and 2014 and then going blank again in 2017 and 2022.

However, the 1975, 1996 and 1998 County Championship winners have won six matches so far in 2025, a tally they will look to increase across their final two matches, at home to Kent from Monday and then at Northamptonshire from September 24.

Rehan Ahmed - who did not play against Gloucestershire this week because of England commitments - Peter Handscomb, Sol Budinger and Lewis Hill have all scored over 600 runs for the Foxes, with Ahmed hitting five centuries batting in the top three.

Leg-spinning all-rounder Ahmed has also contributed 23 wickets, including 13 in one game against Derbyshire, while Logan van Beek, Ian Holland and Ben Green have all taken in excess of 30 wickets - the latter during a spell on loan from Somerset ahead of a permanent switch from 2026 onwards.

Against Gloucestershire, Leicestershire were 93-1 from 30.3 overs in a chase of 316 before the afternoon's third rain interruption forced umpires to abandon play on the final day shortly after 4pm.

Tags:

cricket news id:13428724

Share this article

Related Posts

County cricket to trial replacement players in 2026, covering injury, illness and significant life events such as childbirth

County cricket to trial replacement players in 2026, covering injury, illness and significant life events such as childbirth

Teams will be allowed to use replacement players in County Championship cricket this year to cover illness and significant life events, as well as inj...

England vow to re-engage with county cricket as new season offers hope to Haseeb Hameed, Sam Cook and more

England vow to re-engage with county cricket as new season offers hope to Haseeb Hameed, Sam Cook and more

"I think the gap is as wide as it has ever been."Sussex head coach and former England assistant Paul Farbrace could have been talking about where is...

New Zealand complete record women's ODI run chase as captain Melie Kerr scores 179 not out against South Africa

New Zealand complete record women's ODI run chase as captain Melie Kerr scores 179 not out against South Africa

New Zealand completed the highest successful run chase in women's one-day international history off the back of captain Melie Kerr's stunning 179 not...

PSL: Fakhar Zaman found guilty of ball-tampering after Lahore Qalandars penalised in defeat to Karachi Kings

PSL: Fakhar Zaman found guilty of ball-tampering after Lahore Qalandars penalised in defeat to Karachi Kings

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has suspended Fakhar Zaman for two ‌Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches after the batter was found guilty of ball-tam...

England's Harry Brook and Jacob Bethell receive cautions but Josh Tongue escapes action over clash with nightclub bouncer in New Zealand

England's Harry Brook and Jacob Bethell receive cautions but Josh Tongue escapes action over clash with nightclub bouncer in New Zealand

England white-ball captain Harry Brook and Jacob Bethell have been cautioned by the Cricket Regulator, but no further action is to be taken against Jo...

Ben Stokes: England captain to miss first month of county season as he continues to recover from gruesome cheek injury

Ben Stokes: England captain to miss first month of county season as he continues to recover from gruesome cheek injury

England Test captain Ben Stokes is poised to miss the first month of the County Championship season with Durham as he continues to recover from facial...