County Championship Preview | Gloucestershire vs Middlesex
25 April 2024
Gloucestershire return to the Seat Unique Stadium on Friday to host the visit of Middlesex hoping to bounce straight back following defeat on the road against Sussex.
Mark Alleyne’s side ended up on the wrong side of a tense final day at Hove in which the hosts left it late to claim a four wicket win. Zafar Gohar with eight match wickets made life hard for Sussex particularly on the final day, when he claimed 5-59 in search of a favourable result for Gloucestershire. It wasn’t to be, however, as Cheteshwar Pujara frustrated Shire with a well-made 44 to secure the win for Sussex.
Attentions now turn to the visit of Middlesex who travel to Bristol fresh from securing a sizeable win against Yorkshire at Lord’s last weekend. Former Gloucestershire player, Ryan Higgins, took seven wickets in the match while Leus du Plooy and Joshua De Caires top-scored with half-centuries for Middlesex.
Those results leave Gloucestershire at the foot of the County Championship Division Two on 26 points while Middlesex sit in second place on 42 points.
TEAM NEWS
Mark Alleyne has selected a 12-man squad for visit of Middlesex. Tom Price and Jack Taylor, both rested, drop out of the matchday squad following the defeat to Sussex.
Chris Dent is still missing due to a back injury sustained against Yorkshire while Matt Taylor continues to recover from a toe injury.
Your 12-man squad to face Middlesex:
Van Burren (C), Akhter, Bancroft, Bracey, Charlesworth, De Lange, Gohar, Goodman, Hammond, O Price, Shaw, Singh Dale.
OUR OPPONENTS
Middlesex have registered one win and two draws from their opening three matches which represents a good start to their Division Two campaign following relegation last season.
Their draws have come against Northamptonshire and Glamorgan and could claim top spot in the division with a win over Gloucestershire.
The Middlesex squad to face Gloucestershire: Roland-Jones (c), Bamber, Brookes, Davies (wk), De Caires, Du Plooy, Eskinazi, Fernandes, Tom Helm, Higgins, Holden, Hollman, Kaushal, Stoneman.
LAST MEETING
Gloucestershire last faced Middlesex in the County Championship in July 2021 at the Cheltenham Cricket Festival, running out as eventual winners by 164 runs. A first-innings score of 75 from Miles Hammond backed up by a second-innings score of 88 from James Bracey helped guide Shire to victory.
Matt Taylor took nine wickets in the match as Middlesex's batting was blunted in front of the crowds at the historic Cheltenham College.
HOW TO WATCH
Gloucestershire face Middlesex in the Vitality County Championship Division Two at 11:00 on Friday 26th April at the Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol.
The match will be free to view via the Glos Cricket Match Centre, here
