Through time: Yorkshire v Leicestershire
17.06.26, 09:00 Updated 02.05.26, 16:45 5 Minute Read
Graham Orange
Founded in 1879, Leicestershire made their debut in the County Championship in 1895, but had to wait until 1975 to win the first of their three championship titles. It was Yorkshire exile, Ray Illingworth who captained them to that initial championship success, and fellow Yorkshireman, James Whitaker led them to the title in 1996. Two years later in1998, Whitaker was still at the helm, although a knee injury meant that Chris Lewis actually captained the side to title number three.
Leicestershire’s First-Class debut in 1895 was against MCC at Lord’s and the east midlands team finished joint 12th with Nottinghamshire, while Yorkshire occupied third spot. Surrey were county champions that season, but lost their first match of the campaign to Leicestershire at The Oval by four wickets, a result described by Wisden as a ‘complete surprise’. Captained by amateur Charles de Trafford, Leicestershire were twice beaten heavily by Yorkshire in 1895. In early June, Yorkshire won by 87 runs over two days at Leicester; all-rounder Dick Pougher took 12-139 for Leicestershire, who were bowled out for 80 in their second innings, in which George Hirst took a hat-trick and match figures of 11-106. Pougher’s figures are still the best bowling statistics in a match for Leicestershire against Yorkshire.
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Graham Orange