News

Batty Gets Call To Face Northants

22 May 2012

Jon Batty will make his first LV=County Championship appearance of the season in the match with Northants at Northampton, starting tomorrow.

The experienced wicketkeeper takes over from Richard Coughtrie behind the stumps. Liam Norwell could also play his first Championship game since last summer after impressing in the three-day fixture against Cambridge MCCU.

Gloucestershire skipper Alex Gidman told this website: "Jon Batty has forced his way back into the side. Richard Coughtrie has battled really hard as always. but has had a bit of a rough ride with the bat.

"We feel the time is right to give Richard a rest, but knowing him I am sure he will respond in the right way and come again.

"Liam Norwell hit the deck hard in the Cambridge game, which suggests he is back to full fitness. We will make a decision between him and Graeme McCarter in the morning."

David Payne also played in the University game, but it was felt he needed a further second XI outing to regain full fitness after a side strain.

James Fuller remains sidelined by an arm injury, but Payne is getting some more match practice in this week's second XI fixture against Glamorgan.

Alex added: "We don't think David Payne is far off. Dan Housego also did well against Cambridge MCCU, but we feel our batting is pretty solid at the moment and he needs to go on scoring runs in the seconds."

Gloucestershire (from) C.Dent, B.Howell, K.Williamson, A.Gidman (capt), H.Marshall, I.Cockbain, W.Gidman, E.Young, J.Batty (wkt), I.Saxelby, L.Norwell, G.McCarter.

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