Twelve months ago, Leicestershire CCC defeated Glamorgan in the Liverpool Victoria County Championship Division Two fixture, which would turn out to be the Foxes only victory in the 2011 season.
The league’s basement boys from last season look to have turned the corner this season with a convincing win in the same fixture as last year thanks to new acquisition Robbie Joseph’s demolition of the Welsh
Leicestershire’s season look to have got off to a faulty start with Greg Smith and Jacques du Toit departing with the first two balls of the new season thanks to Huw Waters, caught behind and leg before wicket respectively.
With overseas star and former West Indies batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan making his debut at Grace Road, he watched at the other end as Matt Boyce was removed, gifting Waters his third wicket in just his second over.
Josh Cobb joined Sarwan as they were able to stop the rot after finding themselves at 1-3.
Cobb enjoyed a terrific season in 2011 despite the club struggling in both the four day format and one-day games but the top-order batsman was one of the club’s stars as he helped Leicestershire win another T20 medal.
The middle order all made starts but failed to push on, however, veteran Claude Henderson’s efforts supported by Wayne White and Robbie Joseph helped Leicestershire past the 200 runs mark giving the Foxes their first batting points of the season.
Henderson soon reached his first half-century of the season and his 57 runs helped Leicestershire up to a respectable score of 249, despite falling agonisingly short of the second batting point, score of 250.
Enter Robbie Joseph. The new addition comes with fire since his departure from Kent CCC, and he immediately made his mark on the club as he opened up with captain Matthew Hoggard
With two wickets apiece from Hoggard and Nadeem Malik, Joseph was the star of the show removing Glamorgan’s bottom order as well as dismissing top-order batsmen Walters and Bragg.
Former Fox James Allenby became Joseph’s third victim followed by Wallace, Wagg and Croft all falling to the seamer’s attack.
Leicestershire collected their full quota of bowling points and it was their turn to add runs to the scoreboard which would set Glamorgan a score they would have to chase going in to the final day.
The home side’s second innings total was the Leicestershire of old, a score that failed to see Leicestershire win any more games in the previous games.
Albeit, the Foxes revived their efforts with thanks again to Robbie Joseph in the visitor’s second innings.
With figures of 6-64 in the second innings, Joseph helped Leicestershire record their first victory of the new season and the club have got the ball rolling.
Both sides were docked points due to slow over rates, with Leicestershire losing five points and Glamorgan one, as the hosts collected 15 points and the visitors only two.
There’s a new fire of optimism at Grace Road. Lead by Hoggard, his leadership will be invaluable to the young players once again this season. The former Yorkshire man will have a controlled front-line bowling attack followed by the experience of Nadeem Malik and young seamer Wayne White.
Sarwan brings tonnes of experience to the Leicestershire camp following his international career with the West Indies for many years. The younger batsmen around Sarwan will learn greatly from the overseas as he looks to help the club improve from last season.
Cobb will look to follow up his form from last season in to the new season 
Lloyd Tenant and Phil Whitticase can take positives from the result over Glamorgan. It was always vital Leicestershire pick up their first win as early as possible. The two coaches can continue the club’s fine start to the season as they now prepare to face local rivals Derbyshire away from home.
