County Championship Preview | Gloucestershire vs Yorkshire
11 April 2024
After a complete washout against Derbyshire in the opening round of the Vitality County Championship Division Two campaign, Gloucestershire return to Bristol tomorrow to face Yorkshire hoping to secure their first win of the season against Ottis Gibson’s side.
A mixture of frequent rain and an already saturated outfield at Derby meant not a single ball was bowled last weekend, leaving both teams with only eight points on the board from the opening fixture.
Attentions for Mark Alleyne and his Gloucestershire squad now turn to facing Yorkshire who themselves had their opening fixture of the season affected by the unpredictability of April’s weather. Captained by Shan Masood, Yorkshire played out a draw against Leicestershire in which Adam Lyth and Harry Brook both hit centuries.
That result for Yorkshire leaves them in 5th place in the table on 12 points with Gloucestershire 7th on eight points.
VIEW FROM THE CAMP
TEAM NEWS
Mark Alleyne selects a 13-man squad for the visit of Yorkshire with Ed Middleton and Joe Phillips dropping out of the matchday squad while spinner Zafar Gohar comes in.
All-rounder Tom Price misses out on selection again this week due to a minor rib injury while Matt Taylor must also sit this one out due to a reoccurring toe injury.
Graeme van Buuren captains the side fresh after receiving a contract extension with Shire last week.
Your 13-man squad to face Yorkshire:
van Buuren (c), Akhter, Bancroft, Bracey, B Charlesworth, De Lange, Dent, Gohar, Goodman, Hammond, O Price, Shaw, Singh Dale.
OUR OPPONENTS
Yorkshire are widely regarded as one of the favourites for promotion to Division one this season having been hampered in their pursuit of a return to the top tier in 2023 due to a substantial points deduction.
A rain-affected draw against Leicestershire at Headingley on the opening weekend of the season meant the hosts had to settle for a draw and like Gloucestershire, will be hoping to register their first win of the season at the Seat Unique Stadium this weekend.
The Yorkshire squad to face Gloucestershire: Bean, Brook, Coad, Fisher, Hill, Lyth, Masood (c), Milnes, Moriarty, Revis, Root, Tattersall, Thompson.
LAST MEETING
Gloucestershire last faced Yorkshire in the County Championship in June last year at Headingley, a match that was drawn despite Yorkshire dominance. The hosts accumulated 750 runs from their two innings compared to Shire’s 464 from one outing, but didn’t leave enough time to attack Gloucestershire’s second innings.
It was in that match that Ollie Price scored his maiden first-team century, a well-made 113* to help Glos secure the draw.
HOW TO WATCH
Gloucestershire face Yorkshire in the Vitality County Championship Division Two at 11:00 on Friday 12th April at the Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol.
The match will be free to view via the Glos Cricket Match Centre.
