County Championship Preview | Derbyshire v Gloucestershire
3 April 2025
Mark Alleyne's Gloucestershire side begins their 2025 season with an away fixture against Derbyshire, following a successful pre-season in which they played five red-ball matches across four venues.
The match is a repeat of last season’s curtain-raiser at the County Ground, which was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to rain. However, with spring sunshine forecast for all four days in Derby this weekend, a result looks far more likely this time.
With all eight Division Two teams in action over the weekend, Gloucestershire will be eager to start strong in the County Championship to build early momentum in their promotion push.
TEAM NEWS
With Cameron Bancroft still under contract with Western Australia until Friday, James Bracey will captain the side just a day after signing a new three-year contract extension, keeping him at the club until at least 2028.
Head Coach Alleyne has named a 14-man squad for the trip to Derby, with competition for places strong in both the batting and bowling departments. Chris Dent, Joe Phillips, and Ben Charlesworth are vying for spots at the top of the order, while Ollie Price, Ed Middleton, and Graeme van Buuren provide captain Bracey with a variety of spin options.
If Alleyne opts for a pace-heavy attack, he has a fully fit seam group at his disposal. Tom Price, Ajeet Singh Dale, Zaman Akhter, Marchant de Lange, Matt Taylor, and Josh Shaw are all in contention, while Miles Hammond and Bracey are set to retain their places at four and five in the batting lineup.
Your 14-man squad to face Derbyshire:
Akhter, Bracey (c), B Charlesworth, de Lange, Dent, Hammond, Middleton, Phillips, O Price, T Price, Singh Dale, Shaw, M Taylor, van Buuren.
VIEW FROM THE CAMP
OUR OPPONENTS
After finishing at the bottom of the Division Two table in 2024, Derbyshire will be eager to match their last season's victory tally of one in their opening fixture against Glos, starting on Friday.
Wayne Madsen, who previously led the side to promotion in 2012, returns as captain, replacing David Lloyd. He will have new signings Caleb Jewell, Martin Andersson, and Jack Morley at his disposal.
In their final pre-season friendly against SACA, Australian Jewell impressed with a century, while Andersson, Zak Chappell, Anuj Dal, and Luis Reece all made valuable contributions with the ball.
LAST MEETING
Derbyshire and Gloucestershire met twice in the 2024 red-ball competition, with both matches ending in draws. Their season opener last April was abandoned without a ball bowled due to bad weather, but with sunshine forecast for all four days this time, a repeat looks unlikely.
In last year’s clash in Bristol, Gloucestershire appeared to be taking control thanks to centuries from James Bracey and Graeme van Buuren. Early second innings wickets from Ed Middleton (2), Marchant de Lange (1), and Ollie Price gave them hope of forcing a result, but time ultimately ran out in their pursuit of victory.
HOW TO WATCH
Gloucestershire face Derbyshire in the County Championship at the County Ground at 11am on Friday 04 April.
The match will be streamed live via the Glos Cricket Match Centre.
