Home to the Leicestershire Foxes, Grace Road has quietly emerged as a balanced venue in the T20 Blast over the past few seasons. With the Foxes ever improving, they will be hunting for glory this season!
A few tough years in red-ball cricket, they will be hoping their white ball side can do much better and this 2025 season of the Vitality Blast could be crucial for them.
Bowling Performance – Spin vs Pace
| Bowling Type | Bowling Average | Economy Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Spin Bowlers | 22.78 | 7.46 |
| Fast Bowlers | 24.79 | 8.88 |
Contrary to conventional opinion, Grace Road has been more spin friendly than it has been pace friendly, making Rehan Ahmed a great choice!
First Innings Score Trends
| Year | Avg 1st Innings Score |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 163.14 |
| 2023 | 167.14 |
| 2024 | 170.29 |
Scores have steadily risen over the years, with 2024 seeing the highest average. While not a batting paradise, Grace Road has shown it can reward batters who play proper cricket shots and with a steadily rising first innings score.
Wickets Breakdown
Innings-wise Wickets:
| Innings | Avg Wickets Fallen |
|---|---|
| First Innings | 7.33 |
| Second Innings | 6.24 |
Overs Phase:
| Phase | Avg Wickets Per Innings |
|---|---|
| Powerplay Overs | 1.76 |
| Middle Overs | 3.00 |
| Death Overs | 2.18 |
The middle overs are crucial at Grace Road, with spinners likely dictating terms in that phase. While the powerplay offers slightly more risk for openers, it’s the mid-innings collapse that often turns matches.
Bowling changes and field placements during overs 7–15 are where matches are won or lost here.
Top Run Scorers at Grace Road (2022–2025)
| Player | Runs Scored |
|---|---|
| Rishi Patel | 551 |
| Colin Ackermann | 331 |
| Nick Welch | 239 |
| Wiaan Mulder | 238 |
| Rehan Ahmed | 209 |
Rishi Patel has been the standout performer, with over 550 runs—often anchoring Leicestershire’s innings and pacing his knocks according to conditions.
Veterans like Colin Ackermann and young stars like Rehan Ahmed round out a dynamic batting group.
Top Wicket Takers at Grace Road (2022–2025)
| Player | Wickets Taken |
|---|---|
| Callum Parkinson | 26 |
| Rehan Ahmed | 18 |
| Ben Mike | 16 |
| Josh Hull | 13 |
| Naveen-ul-Haq | 11 |
Callum Parkinson leads the charts, showcasing just how vital spin is at Grace Road. Leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed isn’t far behind—proof that wrist spin plays a big role here.
With two spinners among the top three, it’s a ground that challenges the usual pace-dominated trends in English T20 cricket.
Tactical & Betting Tips
- Back spin bowlers in fantasy leagues and betting markets—Parkinson and Rehan are consistent performers on this surface.
- Target middle-order batters who play spin well—they often bat through the crucial middle overs where wickets fall frequently.
- Avoid loading up on fast bowlers unless they bowl in the death overs—Grace Road doesn’t give them the same reward as other grounds.
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