Leicestershire: Andrew McDonald hopeful on Clint McKay return

Andrew McDonald has a contract with Leicestershire until the end of the 2017 season

Leicestershire coach Andrew McDonald is hopeful overseas player Clint McKay will sign for another season.

McKay, who has taken 41 wickets in nine championship appearances, has been one of the county's success stories in another difficult season.

McDonald told BBC Radio Leicester: "Clint is enjoying the challenge of turning the club around, he wants to be here, and we want him to be here."

The Foxes have also signed young wicketkeeper/batsman Michael Burgess.

McKay, who is 32 and has 59 one day international caps for Australia, has been a key member of a seam attack that has bowled the opposition out twice in five out of their 11 Championship matches this season - a feat they did not achieve once last season.

"It would be great to see Clint back next season, everyone can see what he has brought and he's a quality person as well," said McDonald.

"It was a big thing for the club to have secured someone of Clint's stature, and he had plenty of offers from elsewhere, but he was looking to buy into the club and help turn it around, it was a challenge he wanted to embark on, and that was not going to be a one-year thing."

Veteran seamer Charlie Shreck has 49 wickets to his name, while all-rounder Ben Raine has 44.

But the county has failed to score more than 280 in any of its last 14 innings, and after winning at Essex at the start of June, has lost its last five Championship fixtures, and last four in the T20 competition.

"The stats don't lie, and it's time the batting unit started performing," said McDonald, who confirmed the county was in talks with a number of potential new signings.

"I can't question the guys' work ethic off the park, I just hope it translates to performance on the park."

Michael Burgess scored 116 for Loughborough MCCU against Kent earlier in the season.

Meanwhile, Burgess has a first-class average of 42 and has hit two half-centuries for Leicestershire's second XI this season and 64 in a T20 game against Unicorns.

"Michael is a highly promising player and deserves his opportunity," said Foxes head coach Andrew McDonald.

Burgess has been named in Leicestershire's T20 Blast squad for Friday night's match with local rival Nottinghamshire.