Injuries to key personnel held back Leicestershire over the first half of the Championship season, according to senior coach Tim Boon.

While the Foxes have been short of first innings' runs, they were also shorn of bowlers during the first eight games of the summer.

Nadeem Malik, Sam Cliff, Alex Wyatt and Jigar Naik have all been long-term casualties, while Iain O'Brien and Jim Allenby have also had spells out through injury.

"That has affected our ability to take 20 wickets in games," said Boon, whose side begin the second half of the championship season on Friday when they travel to face Surrey.

"Having said that, O'Brien has been a huge plus overall on the bowling front," Boon added.

"He is a world-class bowler who has the ability to spearhead an attack and lead the way."

One of the bowlers who has been able to make strides is Harry Gurney. The left-arm seamer had plenty to prove at the start of the season but has demonstrated that he has a good deal to offer in the first-class and one-day arenas.

Boon said: "Harry had to claw his way into the first team, but he put in the performances in the Seconds and bowled superbly in the majority of Twenty20 games he played – and that has given him the confidence to take into the longer form of the game."

The County's batting has been a source of frustration for supporters with too many blanks fired in first innings, leading to the side being under pressure in their second knock.

"Up front, we haven't had the starts that we expected," said Boon. "That is something we are looking to improve on over the remainder of the season."

Boeta Dippenaar's improved showing on last year's miserly effort is one plus, as is the form of Allenby. The outstanding batters, though, have been James Taylor and Tom New.

"Titch's (Taylor) form was probably encapsulated in the last game against Essex when he scored 88," Boon said.

"I think he had about 44 when (last man) Harry Gurney came in. But the way he manipulated the strike and hit the ball so powerfully and cleanly shows his potential. Tom has worked tremendously hard. He has increased his strength and his power which, as well as his batting, has had a direct effect on the way he takes the ball behind the stumps."

The County have a gruelling stint ahead of them, starting on Friday in south London with only a day between the scheduled end of that game before they travel north to face Glamorgan at Colwyn Bay.