Leicestershire County Cricket Club represents the English counties of Leicestershire and Rutland as part of the English and Welsh domestic cricket system. Leicestershire CCC is one of 18 major county clubs and has a rich history and traditions having been founded in 1879. Grace Road is a unique venue that hosts many different events and Elton John performed at the ground on Saturday, June 11, 2016. Leicestershire CCC was also one of the five host venues for the ICC Women's World Cup in 2017. In a major development at Grace Road, the club was granted planning permission to install six floodlights on January 6, 2016 as part of its ambitious five-year business plan. The club first lifted the County Championship in 1975, which was the best year in the club’s history given the team also won the Benson and Hedges Cup and beat Australia in a thrilling tourist fixture. Leicestershire CCC completed the remarkable feat of winning the County Championship twice in three years (1996 & 1998) under the guidance of Jack Birkenshaw and James Whitaker. Leicestershire CCC won the B&H Cup in 1972, 1975 & 1985 and also won the Sunday League title twice in the 1970s. The team lifted the T20 trophy in 2011 for an unprecedented third time having previously won it in 2004 and 2006, and have also won the County Championship three times. Leicestershire CCC has a high-class coaching structure with Paul Nixon as Head Coach, John Sadler as Assistant Coach, Matt Mason as Head Bowling Coach, Tom Smith as Second XI Coach and Andy Siddall as Academy Director. We are a county that believes in giving young players an opportunity through our thriving Academy set-up. The club has also signed some experienced players in recent times to ensure that there is a good balance in the squad.