After a disastrous close to the English domestic season, Leicestershire are "World Cricket's Clowns of the Month" for September.
The Foxes started September as they meant to go on, losing by an innings and 34 runs against Hampshire. They followed it up with a respectable, high-scoring draw against Gloucestershire. The wheels really came off what was an already tottering wagon in the last two games, though.
First they succumbed to Essex inside two days, losing by an innings and 79 runs at Grace Road. Most impressive about this thrashing was a truly spectacular second-innings collapse. From the relative safety of 113 for four, the home side contrived to lose their final six wickets for just four runs.
And just when Leicestershire supporters thought it couldn't possibly get any worse, it did. This time it was Derbyshire that had their way with the Division Two's whipping-boys. A three-day, 408-run rout was the third-largest defeat in the county's history.
The latest run of drubbings meant a second season in a row without a County Championship win. Two whole seasons! That's 32 games. You have to go back to September 2012 for the last time the Foxes registered a victory.
In 16 Championship games this season, Leicestershire's bowlers didn't once manage to take 20 wickets.
Capping what was a truly wretched month was the news that three of their most promising young players will be joining Division Two rivals next season.
Shiv Thakor is off to Derbyshire, Nathan Buck is heading to Lancashire and former one-day captain Josh Cobb will try his luck with Northants.
Coach Ben Smith put the latest woeful performances down to off-field issues. He told the Leicester Mercury:
The players have been distracted for the last month. It is difficult when you have the different factions in the team – the players who know they are going, the players who are undecided and the ones who are staying. I don't think we have played with clear minds for the last month.
So are there any hints that Leicestershire will show any signs of life next season? The county announced the signing of Aussie paceman Clint McKay last week, and he should thrive on some sporting second-division surfaces.
Perhaps more encouraging is the form shown by the up-and-comers in the second XI. While their first-team colleagues were conspiring to go winless, the youngsters were completing a championship, one-day and T20 treble.
A promotion push may be too much to ask, but surely the Foxes can't go another season without registering a win. Can they?
