Leicestershire have made a couple of interesting acquisitions in their bid for honours in the first divisions of both the County Championship and the National League.

Their overseas player for 2001 is Danny Marsh, son of the great Australian wicket-keeper Rodney. However, Danny is no stumper. He is a slow left-arm bowler and a forceful right-handed batsman. He plays his first-class cricket for Tasmania, and attended the famed Australian Cricket Academy in 1994.

Marsh is seen as a particularly effective one-day player, and came to the attention of the England side after his match-winning performance for a Prime Minister's XI against them on the 1998-99 Ashes tour. He has some experience of English conditions having played league cricket in England.

Leicestershire have also brought in Devon Malcolm, aged 38, for his 17th season in first-class cricket. But the former England paceman insists age is not a problem for him.

"I still have fire in my belly and will be looking to bowl quickly and take wickets," he said. "I also have far more experience now and I think that will help Leicestershire.

"I have had a good career at Test and county level but I have never been part of a championship-winning team. It would be the icing on the cake for me if I could achieve that here - and I believe I can," he said.

Last season Leicestershire's best cricket did not come until the latter part of summer and coach Jack Birkenshaw admitted: "We peaked too late.

"We really needed the season to carry on until Christmas, because we didn't get our act together until the final weeks when we consistently close to our potential in the championship."

The importance of staying in the top flight in both the four-day and one-day games was underlined when Leicestershire released their annual finances.

They announced a loss of £154,590 for the year 2000. That follows a profit of £28,000 in 1999.

The deficit has been largely blamed on a massive increase in playing expenses – salaries, accommodation, equipment - while there has been a 15 per cent reduction in members' subscriptions, match receipts and marketing.

The club's annual report described the result as "very disappointing" and secretary/general manager James Whitaker said: "Salaries are going up and income is not matching that."

He added: "It is a really careful balancing act to make sure that we keep First Division cricket in both the County Championship and the National League and have the players of that quality."

Squad: S Adshead, S Boswell, N Burns, C Crowe, J Dakin, P DeFreitas, P Griffiths, A Habib, D Maddy, D Malcolm, D Marsh, J Ormond, B Smith, W Sterling, D Stevens, I Sutcliffe, T Ward, V Wells (captain), M Whiley, A Wright.

Overseas: Danny Marsh (Australia).

In: P Griffiths, D Malcolm, D Marsh, M Whiley (Nottinghamshire).

Out: M Brimson, A Khan, A Kumble, C Lewis, P Robinson, A Sachdeva, D Williamson.

© CricInfo Ltd.