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Dawson credits Hankins on bright start in Royal London One-Day Cup

22 May 2018

George Hankins goes into tomorrow’s (Weds) Royal London Cup match with Surrey at The Kia Oval looking to cement his place as Gloucestershire’s new opener in one-day cricket.

The 21-year-old Bath-born batsman has responded to the challenge brilliantly in the first two South Group matches, scoring 85 against Glamorgan at Cardiff and 77 against Essex the Brightside Ground, Bristol.

Gloucestershire won both games against sides who beat them in last season’s competition and head coach Richard Dawson gives Hankins much of the credit.

“George has played two very similar innings to get us off to good starts,” he said. “Our aim at the start of the competition was to play fearless, but smart cricket and he has done just that.

“Being a big lad, he can strike the ball at the top of the bounce and his runs have been scored with proper cricket shots, rather than risky ones.

“We gave him the chance to open in games leading up to the season and always try to give our young players first team opportunities if they earn them.”

Hankins, a product of Millfield School, has played in only five List A games, but already has a healthy average of 52.4. He made 67 against Sussex at Eastbourne last season and Gloucestershire have lost only one of the matches he has played in.

His 85 against Glamorgan featured 10 fours, while there were seven boundaries in his 77 against Essex. Dawson’s point about scoring quickly without undue risk is backed by the stat that Hankins did not clear the rope in either innings.

The head coach is understandably delighted with the start made by his team to the Royal London Cup campaign, pointing to contributions by all the top order batsmen and the ability to break partnerships in mid-innings as features of the first two fixtures.

Chris Liddle has starred with the ball, claiming four wickets in both games to lead the competition’s bowling list.

Now Dawson warns there can be no let-up against a Surrey side, who have lost their opening two matches to Somerset and Hampshire, and lie bottom of the South Group.

He said: “I heard an interview with one of their players, Rory Burns, after the Hampshire game and he was saying they generally improve in 50-over cricket after slow starts.

“They have a large and very strong squad, with some exceptional players, and we will need to be at our best to beat them.”

Gloucestershire have added Craig Miles to the 13-man squad selected for the Essex game, with Miles Hammond and Graeme van Buuren also looking to break into the team, but may well name an unchanged side.

Article written by Richard Latham for the ECB Independent Reporter Network

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