Can Mohammad Abbas ignite Leicestershire to an unlikely promotion push?

COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW: New contracts were dished out like confetti to retain the star players Leicestershire do possess. None of the retentions were welcomed with more fanfare than that of Abbas, who will remain for 2019

Ins: Chris Wright (Warwickshire), Will Davis (Derbyshire), Arron Lilley (Lancashire)

Outs: Ben Raine (Durham), Zak Chappell (Nottinghamshire), Cameron Delport (Essex), Mohammad Nabi (Kent), Ned Eckersley (released), Mark Pettini (released), Tom Wells (released), Richard Jones (released), Michael Carberry (released)

Fixture list: April 5 – Sussex (a); April 11 – Worcestershire (h); May 14 – Middlesex (a); May 27 – Derbyshire (h); June 3 – Lancashire (a); June 10 – Middlesex (h); June 17 – Gloucestershire (h); June 24 – Northamptonshire (a); July 7 – Durham (h); July 15 – Gloucestershire (a); August 18 – Durham (a); September 10 – Northamptonshire (h); September 16 – Glamorgan (a); September 23 – Lancashire (h)

Remind me what happened last year?

Having ended three of the last five seasons without a victory in the four-day game, it only took until May for Leicestershire to get that particular monkey off their back against Glamorgan. Indeed, but for narrow defeats to Durham and Middlesex they could well have improved on the five wins they did record - the most in a single campaign since 2010.

It is not unfair to reflect on how the Grace Road side might have fared had it not been for Colin Ackermann, whose 876 runs, nine wickets and 10 catches were priceless, or overseas signing Mohammad Abbas, who took 50 scalps with the ball. The wheels did start to come off at the end of the campaign, giving coach Paul Nixon reason for concern.

^{Leicestershire head coach Paul Nixon}

What’s happened over the winter?

New contracts were dished out like confetti to retain the star players Leicestershire do possess. None of the retentions were welcomed with more fanfare than that of Abbas, who will remain for 2019.

Allrounder Neil Dexter, young batsman Harry Dearden, South Africa-born bowler Dieter Klein, Gavin Griffths - who took a 10-fer last term - and Callum Parkinson have also been given extensions.

Behind the scenes, there has been significant movement, with Wasim Khan joining the Pakistan Cricket Board and replaced as chief executive by Karen Rothery. Beginning her role in late April, she is one of the few women in a senior role in county cricket.

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Who’s arrived and who’s left?

Former England Test opener Michael Carberry had his contract cut-short in the winter after being stripped of the captaincy last May. The saga led to a threat of legal action but the 38-year-old remains without a team as the season approaches.

Despite Abbas' brilliance, it was Ben Raine who finished 2018 as Leicestershire's leading wicket-taker but he has moved to Durham. Zak Chappell only played four Division Two games last season but made a tangible contribution on almost every occasion and will be missed.

Cameron Delport has also exited though he had not made a first-class outing since April 2017. Title-winner in 2012 with Warwickshire Chris Wright is the stand-out recruit as a direct replacement for Raine.

^{Leicestershire won five Championship matches in 2018}

Who will be the key men in 2019?

Getting close to 14 matches out of Ackermann and Abbas will be key to ensuring Leicestershire do not spend another season propping up the Division Two table. Though the bowling department looks sufficiently stocked, others need to step up in the batting.

Ackermann was the only player to reach three figures in 2018, meaning experienced campaigners such as Dexter and captain Paul Horton - who failed to convert any of their eight half-centuries - will be asked to improve. Much will therefore be expected of twenty-one-year-old Dearden in the middle-order.

What can we expect from this team this season?

Division Two has a formidable looking line-up in 2019, with Lancashire, Middlesex and Sussex all fighting to be part of the 10-team top tier in 2020. To suggest Leicestershire could be among those battling for promotion, with an extra slot available, is fanciful, however.

Nixon's raison d'etre will be merely avoiding the ignominy of another winless campaign - something the Midlands county are used to. The visit of Derbyshire in early June might be the ideal opportunity to alleviate any pressure but again it promises to be a long season.

Prediction: 7th