County Championship Preview | Leicestershire v Gloucestershire
2 September 2023
Five days after Gloucestershire’s One-Day Cup campaign ended in semi-final defeat to Leicestershire, they return to the Uptonsteel County Ground with a point to prove in the County Championship.
With three games left in Division Two, Gloucestershire are still searching for a first red ball win of 2023.
Reigning World Champions England play their final World Cup warm-up game against Ireland in Bristol on September 26th.
Team news
Dale Benkenstein selects a thirteen-player squad for the trip to Grace Road, with Ben Charlesworth returning from a knee injury for the first time since the opening Metro Bank One-Day Cup match.
Harry Tector could also make his County Championship debut for Glos after impressing in the 50-over competition.
Your 13-player Gloucestershire squad to face Leicestershire:
James Bracey*, Zaman Akhter, Ben Charlesworth, Chris Dent, Zafar Gohar, Miles Hammond, Joe Phillips, Ollie Price, Tom Price, Josh Shaw, Jack Taylor, Matt Taylor, Harry Tector.
Last time out
Gloucestershire lost to Worcestershire by 110 runs during the Cheltenham Cricket Festival despite an Ollie Price century and nine wickets in the match for Paul van Meekeren.
Price’s hundred was his second of the season and highest score in first-class cricket. He carried that form into the One-Day Cup averaging an astonishing 82 throughout the competition.
Our opponents
Leicestershire are still in the hunt for promotion from Division Two with one game in hand over the current top three, Durham, Worcestershire and Glamorgan.
Peter Handscomb has returned to Australia so is unavailable for selection for the match.
Last meeting
The Seat Unique Stadium played host to the sides earlier this season, when an aggressive Gloucestershire second innings set the visitors 221 to win on the final day.
An expert 141-run partnership between Rehan Ahmed and Colin Ackermann put to bed Shire’s hopes of a first win of the season as the Foxes won by five wickets in June.
How to watch
Gloucestershire face Leicestershire in the County Championship beginning on Sunday 3rd September at 10:30am at the Uptonsteel County Ground, Leicester.
The game can be watched live in the Glos Cricket Match Centre. Coverage begins at 10:20am.
