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

Damien Martyn: Former Australia cricketer out of coma after contracting meningitis

Damien Martyn: Former Australia cricketer out of coma after contracting meningitis

Former Australia batter Damien Martyn has revealed he is out of an induced coma and recovering at home after he was left with a "50-50 chance of survi...

The Hundred: Manchester Super Giants retain Jos Buttler and unveil elephant logo as part of team rebrand

The Hundred: Manchester Super Giants retain Jos Buttler and unveil elephant logo as part of team rebrand

Jos Buttler has been retained by the newly-named Manchester Super Giants in The Hundred, with the team formerly known as the Originals also unveiling...

The Hundred: Men's and women's squads for 2026 season which runs from July 21-August 16 live on Sky Sports

The Hundred: Men's and women's squads for 2026 season which runs from July 21-August 16 live on Sky Sports

Check out the men's and women's squads for the 2026 season of The Hundred, which runs from July 21-August 16, live on Your Site.Teams are allowed up...

England Test cricket: How Ben Stokes' side could line up against New Zealand after latest Ashes away defeat

England Test cricket: How Ben Stokes' side could line up against New Zealand after latest Ashes away defeat

Changes will come when England take to the field as a Test side for the first time since a disappointing away Ashes series this winter, but how could...

Sri Lanka vs England, first ODI: Latest score and updates from series opener for Harry Brook's side in Colombo

Sri Lanka vs England, first ODI: Latest score and updates from series opener for Harry Brook's side in Colombo

Wheatley nearing Bradford loan moveLatest from Your Site News' Dan Khan: Manchester United striker Ethan Wheatley is close to joining Bradford Ci...

Jos Buttler backs Ben Stokes' England to become No 1 Test team in world despite Ashes failure in Australia

Jos Buttler backs Ben Stokes' England to become No 1 Test team in world despite Ashes failure in Australia

Jos Buttler has backed Ben Stokes to lead England to the top of the Test rankings despite the side's 4-1 Ashes failure in Australia this winter.Englan...