Essex v Gloucestershire
LV= Insurance County Championship
The Cloud County Ground
Monday 11 – Thursday 14 July
11am start
The LV= Insurance County Championship returns following the conclusion of this year’s Vitality Blast campaign. Essex have an opportunity to bounce back from the disappointing result at Emirates Old Trafford with the visit of Gloucestershire to The Cloud County Ground.
Tom Westley’s men will be looking to make it three successive victories in the competition after overcoming Lancashire and Hampshire.
The 12-run win over Hampshire was the third win of the season and it was Simon Harmer who again played an instrumental role. His match figures of 15/207 were a career-best and he was duly supported by Aaron Beard who made his first Championship appearance of the season, taking 3/52 in Hampshire’s second innings.
Squad:
This next block of Championship games includes three matches in July before the Royal London Cup gets underway next month. There is a welcomed return for Nick Browne and the team’s leading Championship run-scorer, Alastair Cook who has 504 runs and averaging 45.81.
Matt Critchley and Jamie Porter also return to the squad after injury with the former featuring against Lancashire Lightning on Friday.
Sam Cook is the only notable absentee from the squad after being called up for the England Lions’ two 50-over matches against South Africa this week.
The Opposition:
Gloucestershire have endured a difficult return to Division One cricket and are still looking for a first victory.
The West Country side recorded a draw last time out against Lancashire, which included a century from their leading run-scorer, Chris Dent. The opening batter has 508 runs to his name so far this season and has reached three figures on two occasions.
The Gloucestershire bowling attack includes all-rounder, Ryan Higgins who has taken 19 wickets in the competition. He recorded his best figures of 4/68 against Northamptonshire in April, where he also struck 134 not out.
David Payne and Benny Howell join Sam Cook in the England Lions squad, so will not be available for selection.
Gloucestershire squad: Graeme van Buuren (c), James Bracey, Chris Dent, Zafar Gohar, Dominic Goodman, Miles Hammond, Marcus Harris, Ryan Higgins, Ollie Price, Tom Price, George Scott, Josh Shaw, Jack Taylor, Matt Taylor.
Last time out:
The two sides last faced each other in 2021 after both sides had to settle for Division Two cricket in the latter stages of the season. Essex dominated proceedings at Chelmsford, beating Gloucestershire by an innings and 3 runs.
Jamie Porter took 4/32, with three wickets apiece for Sam Cook and Simon Harmer to bowl Gloucestershire out for 76.
In reply, Paul Walter struck 96 as Essex posted 276 and a first-innings lead of 200 runs. A further four wickets from Simon Harmer in the visitors’ second innings guided Essex to a comfortable win.
How To Watch:
Our live stream service will be available across all four days of this game and you can join us from 10:20am on Day One to watch the news from the toss. The Essex Cricket Matchzone is also free to view, which includes player stats, scorecards and clips throughout the match.
The broadcast can be accessed via the Essex Cricket Matchzone here.
