By Neville Foulger at Leicester

First day of four: Leicestershire 42-0 v Sussex

LEICESTERSHIRE have decided to call themselves the Foxes in cricket's new National League next season.

Based on the weather their games have attracted in these last two seasons, the Ducks or the Dolphins would seem to be more appropriate.

Last season Leicestershire lost a staggering 2,260 overs to the weather in County Championship cricket - the equivalent of 22 days and the soggy tale has continued this summer.

A total of only 18 overs was possible at Grace Road yesterday after play finally began at 3.30.

Sussex won the toss, decided to field and Jason Lewry bowled one delivery before the rain began again and drove the players back into the pavilion for a further hour.

By tea, 11 overs had been bowled and another seven followed in an evening session scheduled to go on until 7.30, but which was eventually abandoned 45 minutes early with Leicestershire on 42 without loss.

That meant this first day had been reduced by 86 overs, bringing the total already lost by Leicestershire in their eight championship games this season to around 1,100 overs.

But for the new drainage system installed at Grace Road in the winter at a cost of £25,000, it would have been much more.

Both sides will be hoping there is a big improvement in the weather in the next three days, for this is an important game for them.

Having started the season in such splendid style, Sussex suffered the hiccup of a big defeat by Warwickshire in their last game and their championship credentials will be tested by a Leicestershire side who have already reached the Benson and Hedges Cup final.

Leicestershire also believe that, given decent weather, they can put together a serious challenge for the championship they won in 1996. But as manager Jack Birkenshaw remarked: ``It is difficult to win anything sitting in the pavilion.''

That was certainly the case on another damp squib of a day which proved difficult for both sides although, in what little play there was, Leicestershire would feel they had the edge.

Put into bat, Vince Wells and Darren Maddy survived tricky spells either side of the tea interval without too many alarms.

Both produced beautifully-timed cover drives to the boundary off James Kirtley and the only moment of unease came when Sussex claimed a catch in the slips off Maddy when a delivery jumped and struck him on the forearm.

It is a big match as well for Leicestershire fast bowler David Millns. He is back in the side for the first time for a month having been out recovering from a serious ear infection which put him in hospital for five days.

With England A paceman James Ormond struggling with a back problem and doubtful for the Benson and Hedges Cup final, Millns will be hoping to find his form quickly enough to earn a place in the side at Lord's against Essex on July 11.

Day 2: Severely rain-curtailed.

Only one over was possible before tea at Grace Road yesterday to follow the 18 that were bowled on Friday in the match between Leicestershire and Sussex. Leicestershire lost Darren Maddy to an out-swinger from James Kirtley.

Day 3: Millns returns with venom

By Peter Deeley at Leicester

Third day of four: Sussex (56-4) trail Leicestershire (289) by 233 runs

DAVID MILLNS celebrated his return from a severe illness with two quick wickets to bolster his claim for a place in Leicestershire's coming Benson and Hedges Cup final meeting with Essex.

Millns was out of the side for six weeks with a virus and spent time on an intravenous drip in hospital with a dangerously high temperature.

With Jimmy Ormond suffering back trouble and doubtful for Lord's, a fit Millns is important to Leicestershire's hopes.

He trapped Wasim Khan leg-before with his third delivery, then smashed Chris Adams' stumps with a no-ball and finally bowled the Sussex captain via a thick inside edge.

Hit wicket is not a common phenomenon in the game but this was a day when there were two - and, almost as unusual, no rain fell at Grace Road.

Sussex seamer James Kirtley caused trouble early with bounce and movement and finished with his second five-wicket haul of the summer.

But as the pitch flattened out, Chris Lewis and Paul Nixon played the home side back into the game with a 93-run stand for the eighth wicket.

Then Lewis went to pull Paul Jarvis, changed his mind but left the bat protruding and presented an easy caught and bowled.

Day 4: Bevan breaks up the tedium

By Peter Deeley at Leicester

Leicestershire (289 & 6-1) drew with Sussex (302)

TO BOWDLERISE a saying from another type of activity, if a draw be inevitable lie back and enjoy Michael Bevan.

The Australian's second hundred of the summer was the one distinctive feature of a day which dribbled aimlessly on because the sides were unable to agree on an acceptable Sussex runs' target after almost two days lost to rain.

In these situations cricket could do with an arbitrator to impose a target. But Leicestershire's coach, Jack Birkenshaw, is correct when he says ``if this kind of thing goes on, next time there will be two people watching''.

The late finish for this game failed to pull in many latecomers and there were equal spectators and players present when, unlamented, it died.

If Sussex had accepted the offer of a 250-run target, on this flat pitch Bevan looked as if he could have knocked the runs off himself. He stayed untroubled for six hours, hitting 24 fours and a six.

Leicestershire will draw encouragement from David Millns' four for 68 on his return from illness.