Another day, another sold-out Cloudfm County Ground as we host Gloucestershire on Saturday evening in the Vitality Blast! The match is the third Vitality Blast battle of the season with Simon Harmer’s men looking to put on another show in front of the home crowd.
Here’s the low-down on Friday’s opponents…
Titles: None
Finals Days: 2
Head Coach: Richard Dawson – The former Yorkshire and England off-spinner took charge of the team in 2015 and led them to victory over Surrey in the Royal London One-Day Cup final at Lord’s that season. He played for Gloucestershire between 2009 and 2011.
Captain: Michael Klinger – The experienced Australian batsman is back for a seventh season with Gloucestershire, playing only in the Vitality Blast, having established himself as one of the most popular overseas signings ever to represent Gloucestershire.
Overseas signings: Michael Klinger (Australia), Andrew Tye (Australia)
The Narrative: While Gloucestershire’s prime objective this summer is promotion in the County Championship, head coach Richard Dawson anticipates a strong Vitality Blast challenge, having seen his side only miss out on a place in the knock-out stages of the Royal London One-Day Cup on run-rate.
Star Man: Andrew Tye – A late developer, the seamer was 26 when he made his debut for Western Australia. Now 32, he was a member of the Australia A squad, who visited England this summer, having been capped by his country in T20 and one-day internationals.
Mr Consistency: Benny Howell – The 30-year-old all-rounder has become renowned for his variety of delivery as a medium-pacer in one-day cricket, using different grips on the ball to regularly bamboozle batsmen.
Under the radar: Tom Smith – The former Middlesex left-arm spinner has become an integral member of Gloucestershire’s T20 side since joining the county in 2013, bowling in mid-innings with a consistently good economy rate.
Killer stat: Gloucestershire have never won the County Championship or the Twenty20 Cup, finishing second six times in the longer format, and losing to Kent at Edgbaston in the final of the 2007 T20 Cup, their best effort in the competition.
Tickets for this match are sold out but you can still catch the Eagles in action this season with 5 other games taking place at The Cloudfm County Ground!
