Hoggard: No protest planned
Leicestershire captain http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Matthew-Hoggard-c1926 says there will be no player protest as the management row at the county rumbles on.
Hoggard and coach Tim Boon have both written letters to chairman Neil Davidson asking him to resign from his role with the county due to a lack of confidence from the players in the chairman.
However, Davidson has said that he will not be forced out of his role and also says that Hoggard and Boon have both set very bad examples for the rest of the playing staff at Leicestershire.
It's impossible for the club to move forward while there is discontent among various areas of the club. This is not fair to younger members of the side or players who are hoping to use the county as a board into international cricket.
Cannot move forward
Leicestershire cannot move forward as a cricket club because all the time there is talk away from the pitch, there is a lack of focus on the pitch. This will make it very difficult for the club to keep their focus on intentions and aims they may have set before the start of the season.
The county currently sit in the middle of the County Championship Division Two table and could quickly slip to the bottom if they do not perform well in the few matches they have left this season.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Leicestershire-c807 have also performed poorly in limited overs competitions this season and failed to cash in on the general euphoria that Twnety20 cricket in England creates each season.
Hoggard said: "As coach and captain, Tim Boon and I believe we have a duty to bring matters of serious concern to our employer's attention – and we did this privately and confidentially in recognition that this was and remains a matter for the board of Leicestershire County Cricket Club. We conveyed the sincere and deeply-held views of the players and staff of the club to the board."
Younger players
Leicestershire have three England Under-19 players in their squad who will all be looking to break into the first team and regularly play well so they have a better chance of making it to the full England side.
Josh Cobb, James Taylor and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Nathan-Buck-c2069 will almost certainly have no idea at all about how they are meant to react when there is a row between the people who control the club and the people who control the team.
It is not fair on these young players for the captain, coach or the chairman to expect them to come down one way or the other. They may go with the general consensus at the club when the majority of the playing and coaching staff should be pushing them into the shadows and protecting them.
Hoggard added: "I don't think it is helpful for Leicestershire CCC to have these issues played out in public, and I'm sure everyone with the club's best interests at heart will agree with that sentiment."
Betting advice
Be very wary of backing Leicestershire in any matches they have left between now and the end of the season. It's clear that not all of the players at the county have their minds fixed firmly on the cricket and this is a recipe for disaster that will impact on the team.
Keep an eye on those younger players in the side because their attitude will not change. They will be just as determined to take five wickets or to score a 100 so keep this in mind when you are looking for individuals to back. If the club protects these players then they should do well regardless.
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