Teenager Josh Cobb celebrated his return to the side after a three-match absence with a sparkling 72 off 86 balls as bottom-of-the-table Leicestershire reached 332 for eight on the first day of the LV County Championship game against Gloucestershire at Grace Road.

Veteran Paul Nixon and England Under-19 international James Taylor also hit half-centuries to steer the hosts beyond 300 in their first innings at home for the first time in five matches.

But Cobb, who was 19 on Monday, led the way with a boundary-laden innings to more than justify the decision to restore him to the side in place of Hylton Ackerman.

The 36-year-old South African Kolpak, out of contract at the end of the season, has stepped aside to make way for Cobb and looks certain to have played his last game for the club.

Former wicketkeeper Nixon, however, who will be 39 in October, was recalled to play as a batsman only to bring some experience and stability to the top of the order.

The ploy proved a success as Nixon and Greg Smith shared an opening stand of 51 after Leicestershire had won the toss in this Division Two match.

Smith, dropped at slip off Jon Lewis on eight, hit seven boundaries in his 32 before being given lbw playing across the line to Steve Kirby.

The home side's captain Boeta Dippenaar went cheaply but Cobb joined Nixon in a third wicket partnership of 103 which the youngster totally dominated.

Having given Nixon an hour-and-a-half start, Cobb was first to his 50 off 62 balls with seven fours plus a six off Richard Dawson which soared over long-on.

Nixon, bowled by Kirby with a no-ball, took rather longer for his half-century. It took just over three hours and came off 129 balls but was exactly what Leicestershire needed.

Cobb's excellent knock came to an end when he was caught at leg-slip off Dawson. His share of the partnership was 72 with 11 fours and a six.

The dogged Nixon followed three overs later caught at slip for 57, trying to cut a delivery from James Franklin.

But Taylor continued the fine form he has been in for the last few weeks with his fourth successive half-century, sharing useful stands with James Benning (37) and Wayne White (23) along the way.

Taylor was still there at the close having made 76 off 128 balls and in Leicestershire's total of 332 for eight, there were 48 fours plus a six.

::Leicestershire also revealed they have held talks with batsman Will Jefferson, who has been released by Nottinghamshire, with a view to signing him for next season.