County Championship Preview | Northamptonshire vs Gloucestershire
9 May 2024
Gloucestershire travel to Northamptonshire in Division Two of the County Championship on Friday hoping to secure their first win of the new season.
Mark Alleyne’s squad go into the match fully rested having had a by-week in week five of the Championship season. Gloucestershire currently sit at the foot of the table in eighth place on 39 points having drawn two, lost one and had an abandonment in their opening four fixtures.
Last time out against Middlesex, Gloucestershire fought back to secure a gutsy draw against a team that has started the season in fine fettle. Marchant de Lange took seven wickets in the match while Dom Goodman claimed three wickets in the second innings as Gloucestershire’s bowling attack limited Middlesex’s batting output.
With the bat Gloucestershire’s Miles Hammond with 81, Graeme van Buuren with 75 and Ollie Price with 52 were to thank for ensuring the hosts secured much-needed points on the board.
TEAM NEWS
Mark Alleyne has selected a 13-man squad for the trip to face Northamptonshire with Luke Charlesworth and Ed Middleton the notable inclusions.
Chris Dent drops out of the matchday squad as does Zaman Akhter and Dom Goodman, both of whom suffered hamstring strains against Middlesex and have begun a rehab programme with the hope of returning in early June.
Matt Taylor also misses out as he continues tor recover from a toe injury that has sidelined him all season so far.
Your 13-man squad to face Middlesex:
Van Buuren, Bancroft, Bracey, Charlesworth B, Charlesworth L, de Lange, Gohar, Hammond, Middleton, Price O, Price T, Shaw, Singh Dale.
OUR OPPONENTS
Northants sit in fifth place in Division Two having drawn all four of their opening four fixtures.
Last time out Northants drew a rain-affected match against Leicestershire at Grace Road. George Bartlett with 126* and Emilio Gay with 88 top-scored for the visitors while Ben Sanderson starred with the ball, taking four Leicestershire wickets.
The Northamptonshire squad to face Gloucestershire:
LAST MEETING
Gloucestershire last faced Northamptonshire in the County Championship at the Cheltenham Cricket Festival in 2022. The First Division clash saw Northants run out as winners by two wickets thanks to 95 with the bat from Ryan Rickelton in the first innings and five wickets in the second innings from Tom Taylor.
A well-made 127* from captain Graeme van Buuren in the second innings gave Gloucestershire a chance in the match, but it wasn’t to be as Northants reached their target of 205 to claim victory on the final day.
HOW TO WATCH
Gloucestershire face Middlesex in the Vitality County Championship Division Two at 11:00 on Friday 10th May at The County Ground, Northampton.
The match will be free to view via the Glos Cricket Match Centre, here
