A Leicestershire revival, on and off the pitch

HUW TURBERVILL AT THE KIA OVAL: Sean Jarvis is a likeable, enthusiastic man, the latest in a long line of people trying to resurrect the fortunes of the Foxes. I have noticed him engaging with fans and trying to get the message across on social media

The Kia Oval (first day of four): Leicestershire 215-3 vs Surrey

Scorecard

This was a much better day at the office for Leicestershire. Putting their emphatic, not to mention controversial, defeat by Hampshire behind them, they batted solidly against Surrey at The Kia Oval, homegrown youngster Sam Evans making his maiden Championship century.

In an opening day punctuated by breaks for rain and bad light, the visitors reached 215 for 3. Evans, 23, showed patience in droves, pinching a quick single to reach three figures off 225 balls, with 12 fours. Surviving an especially nervous 90s in artificial light, the score could not have come at a better time for him, with competition hotting up when Australia’s Marcus Harris arrives in time for the next match.

Evans was dropped by Rory Burns at slip on 46 off Matt Dunn, but was strong off his legs against some disappointing Surrey bowling. His previous first-class century, 114, came for Loughborough University against Northamptonshire in 2017.

His opening partner Hassan Azad, stumped controversially by Lewis McManus in that defeat by Hampshire of course, made 55; he is known by his club-mates as ‘our Geoffrey Boycott’, but his dismissal was not typical of the great man: he was caught at long leg off Jamie Overton.

After an ordinary opening spell, Overton’s second was much better, and he was the pick of a struggling home attack.

Kemar Roach found the Oval pitch frustratingly benign on his Surrey debut.

^{Leicestershire chief executive Sean Jarvis}

Leicestershire are also having a better time in the actual office, at Grace Road, that belongs to their chief executive.

Sean Jarvis is a likeable, enthusiastic man, the latest in a long line of people trying to resurrect the fortunes of the Foxes. It is really noticeable how he engages with fans to get the message across on social media.

The 54-year-old has sporting pedigree. His late father, Larry, was a big name in cricket circles in the county, as an umpire and administrator.

And Sean has worked for Oldham Athletic, Huddersfield Town (as commercial director during their remarkable foray in the top flight), the Premier League (football) and Super League (rugby league).

He has had a Covid-dominated first year in his role, but has set 25 key performance indicators in a bid to see Leicestershire competing with the big boys again.

The Illingworth/Gower, Birkenshaw/Whitaker and DeFreitas/Agnew years seem a long time ago. Membership is only around the 1,000 mark, and the club continues to work out the best way of engaging the sizeable South Asian community in the area.

It is also not clear if having football and rugby union giants – City and Tigers – is a help or a hindrance.

“Leicestershire cricket is in my blood,” Jarvis told The Cricketer. “Grace Road is the first sports ground I went to. And my father’s ashes are scattered here.

“I was approached to be a non-executive director and I said I’d commit for a year. It seemed nice on the surface, but when I looked under the bonnet I found a 2CV engine.

“The chairman Mehmooda Duke then asked me to be chief executive and I thought, ‘now is the time to give something back to my home city’.

“There are lots of issues to tackle, but as a club we are really upping our game. We have gone on a charm offensive with the business community and we are seeing some encouraging green shoots of recovery. Covid has made things doubly difficult of course, but we have seen a 12 per cent rise in membership.

“We have 56 nationalities in the city, but we have a multi-ethnic staff and are engaging with supporters’ associations. One hurdle is that a lot of the South Asian community is based on the other side of town, but we are creating ambassadors, called Running Foxes, to engage. Unfortunately we will now miss out on hosting India this summer because of the India A tour cancellation, which is gutting, but we will keep working.

“Rome was not built in a day, but success attracts supporters.”

Surrey’s start to the season continues to frustrate, after their defeat at Gloucestershire.

There was quite a nice sight for Surrey fans enjoying streaming - a blast from the past in fact - seeing batsmen walk back to the pavilion.

Usually the players return to the dressing rooms in the Bedser Stand, to the left of the pavilion as you look out. But because of Covid, the pavilion was brought back into use as it would have been ‘in the day’, with Surrey in the Montpelier Club and Leicestershire in the Long Room.

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