Callum Parkinson says Leicestershire are relishing the opportunity to measure themselves against promotion-chasing Worcestershire – and the spinner is hoping to pick the brains of Ravichandran Ashwin after the game at New Road.
The visitors are without a win in the Specsavers County Championship this summer and have recently parted company with head coach Pierre de Bruyn.
But Parkinson and his team-mates are looking forward to the challenge that will confront Leicestershire over the next four days.
He said: “We haven’t built on the momentum we established in the latter part of the T20s, obviously, but I don’t think we’re far away.
“It’s important for us as a group and for the supporters, they deserve a win, and hopefully we can play well enough to have something to build on for next season.
“We’re a tight-knit group, and with Pierre leaving it’s brought everyone that bit closer as we look to finish the season well.
“It’s a good dressing room to be part of, there’s a good blend of experience and youth, and some top characters, and there are no issues there – but we know it’s important to show what we can do in what remains of the season.”
Parkinson added: “Worcestershire are playing good cricket at the moment, they’ve been boosted by signing Ravi Ashwin, and they’re obviously looking to produce result pitches – so we see it is a great chance for us to pick ourselves up and get that first win.
“Ashwin is a different sort of spinner, of course, but you can still learn so much from someone like that and I’m hoping to have a chat with him at the end of the game.
“It would great to pick his brains.”
Parkinson, who picked up 15 wickets in Leicestershire’s journey to the T20 quarter-finals, celebrated signing a one-year contract extension by hitting a first-class career best 75 in the county’s championship draw against Kent two weeks ago.
He said: “I know the past few weeks have been difficult, but I was happy to extend my stay and hopefully push on to better things. I think realistically the club is in a good place to move forwards.
“I’ve been delighted how much cricket I’ve played this season. There’s not that many 20-year-old cricketers getting as much exposure to all forms of cricket and a big thanks to the coaches and my team-mates for their backing and support.
“I feel I’m learning, especially in the T20s. The four day matches have been more difficult, with the pitches we’ve been playing on, but learning ways of taking wickets on flat pitches is part of what I have to learn.
“My batting is something I work hard on, because I see myself one day batting at seven in first-class cricket, but to do that I’ve got to put runs on the board like I did at Kent.
“I was massively pleased with that, it felt like a real breakthrough innings and hopefully I can do it again.”
Leicestershire have named a 13 man squad for the trip to New Road, led by captain Mark Cosgrove, who needs just 43 runs to reach 1,000 in the championship this season.
Fast bowler Matthew Pillans has reached the end of his loan agreement from Surrey, and returned to his parent club.
The squad in full: Mark Cosgrove, Aadil Ali, Colin Ackermann, Michael Carberry, Zak Chappell, Harry Dearden, Neil Dexter, Ned Eckersley, Leiws Hill, Dieter Klein, Clint McKay, Callum Parkinson, Ben Raine.
