McDonald to return

Date: Monday 12 July 2010

Andrew McDonald has been a big miss from Leicestershire Foxes Friends Provident t20 campaign since leaving after the game at Northamptonshire last month.

The all-rounder left to join an Australia A side in test matches, ODIs and t20 games against Sri Lanka A in Queensland – but the good news is that the popular figure is now heading back to Grace Road.

The club are hopeful McDonald will be able to play a part in the key t20 game at Trent Bridge on Thursday evening, with the Foxes badly needing to secure victory against leaders Nottinghamshire Outlaws to rekindle hopes of reaching the quarter final stage.

Leicestershire’s campaign finishes with home games against Durham Dynamos (5.30pm) on Friday night and Warwickshire Bears on Sunday afternoon (2.30pm) and McDonald’s presence in the squad will be crucial.

The all-rounder made a half-century and a score of 49 in his two bats in the format for the foxes and scored his runs at a fair lick.

McDonald’s medium pacers, tidy fielding and general know-how would also have made a big difference in the games that he has missed, so Matthew Hoggard will be delighted to have him back.

In Australia, the A side were convincing winners in the two-match test series and t20 game, although Sri Lanka made life tougher in their favoured 50-over format and emerged 2-0 victors from the three match series.

The Leicestershire all-rounder claimed 3-17 during the second test match, and Australia comfortably won both matches. The margins of victory were 107 runs and an innings and 17 runs respectively.

He also shone with the ball in the t20 game by taking 2-27 was the side won by 27 runs in the only t20 game.

Although the team lost the first ODI, McDonald took 1-34 from eight overs and he also played a key role in the tied second game.

Despite his side struggling when he went to the crease, McDonald made 36 from 29 balls with two sixes after earlier taking 1-47 from his ten overs.

The team needed to win over the weekend to secure a tied series but Chamara Silva’s unbeaten century guided the visitors to a thrilling two-wicket win with five balls to spare.

The club remain hopeful that McDonald will be okay to play at Notts on Thursday, and spectators are reminded that the match is floodlit and therefore begins at 7pm.

Tickets for the final two home games are available at the advance price of £12 adults and £5 under 16s.

Prices rise to £15 and £8 on the night and advance tickets are available through our online shop at: http://shop.leicestershireccc.co.uk/department/match_tickets/ or by ringing Membership and Ticket Co-ordinator Melanie Squires on 0871 282 1879.