Dent returns for Championship run-in
12 August 2016
Opening batsman Chris Dent has recovered from a broken finger and has been named in a squad of 13 as Gloucestershire start the final phase of their season in Division 2 of the Specsavers County Championship against Sussex on Saturday.
The fortunes of the two teams mean they have not faced each other in a four day game at Hove for 11 years, and Dent's availability is likely to see captain Michael Klinger continue to bat at number four.
Durham loanee Phil Mustard, who was ineligible for the midweek T20 quarter final against his parent club, makes his first Championship appearance for Gloucestershire since his move from Chester Le Street.
"Chris was passed fit on Thursday after he hit some balls at the Brightside Ground" said head coach Richard Dawson. "We've left Josh Shaw out because he's felt a niggle in his hamstring and David Payne has been ill so Ollie Currill is with us after doing well in the second XI game against Glamorgan this week."
Squad :
Dent, Tavare, Van Buuren, Klinger (c), Marshall, Mustard, Howell, J. Taylor, Miles, Norwell, M.Taylor, Smith, Currill.
Tom Smith's presence in the squad alongside Graeme Van Buuren and Jack Taylor means Gloucestershire could play three spinners now that Taylor is free to bowl again, and Dawson revealed that was not as far fetched an idea as it might seem.
"There have been some high scoring games at Hove this year, the forecast is decent and it looks a good pitch" Dawson went on. "A lot of overs have been bowled by the spinners, even if they haven't taken a lot of wickets so we've come with a group to cater for every eventuality."
Sussex have drawn nine of their 10 Championship games this season, with the one positive result being a home win over Derbyshire at the end of May. Gloucestershire won the List A game between the teams at the Cheltenham Festival, but head coach Richard Dawson says that recording a fourth Championship victory of the season will take a lot of hard graft.
"Ed Joyce and Chris Nash have scored heavily for Sussex in the Championship, and their attack includes Steve Magoffin, Danny Briggs and Chris Jordan, who also got a century against Essex the other day" Dawson added.
" For us, we've put white ball cricket to bed now for the summer and we've had a chat about the next six weeks playing with the red ball. It's back to breaking the game down into sessions, keeping our heads clear about what we do and trying to win each one."
"We've had three wins so far, and at this stage a couple more could make a big difference. My message to the boys has been about consistency, and doing what we do well. That's what I want."
Coverage :
You can follow the match via the live scorecard available on the website, or via Twitter @Gloscricket.
