Dent returns for last lap in the Championship
27 August 2017
Leading run scorer Chris Dent is back in the Gloucestershire squad for the resumption of first class cricket with a local derby against Worcestershire, starting on Bank Holiday Monday.
Dent didn't feature in the Nat West T20 Blast and missed the game at Northampton earlier in the month after his wife went into labour with their second child. He hasn't played a first team game since the reverse fixture at the Cheltenham Festival, where his unbeaten 135 in the second innings set up Gloucestershire's declaration in a match that ultimately ended in a draw.
His inclusion - and that of Cameron Bancroft - are likely to see Will Tavare and Gareth Roderick revert to their more usual positions in the batting order. Ian Cockbain and George Drissell drop out of the 12. Graeme van Buuren is unavailable because of a wrist injury.
Squad :
Dent, Bancroft, Tavare, Roderick, Hankins, Mustard (c), J.Taylor, Noema-Barnett, Miles, Payne, Norwell, Smith.
Leading wicket taker Liam Norwell reached the milestone of 200 Championship victims earlier this summer and both Craig Miles (196) and David Payne (194) have the chance to replicate that feat over the next four days on a ground where Gloucestershire had one of their best wins of 2016 as Michael Klinger and Jack Taylor both made unbeaten centuries in a five wicket victory.
Worcestershire, for their part, sit in second place in the Championship table and have recruited Indian all rounder Ravi Ashwin for the remainder of the season in place of the injured John Hastings as they try and secure promotion back to Division 1.
Ashwin has taken nearly 300 Test wickets with his off breaks, 17 of them in the recent 3-0 series win for India in Sri Lanka. It remains to be seen if he finds the New Road pitch as helpful, as only 15 wickets have fallen there to spin in first class cricket this summer.
Squad :
Mitchell, D'Oliveira, Fell, Clarke, Rhodes, Ashwin, Cox, Barnard, Leach (c), Tongue, Brown, Milton, Scrimshaw
*Gloucestershire supporters are reminded that there will be no tickets available on Bank Holiday Monday at New Road after Worcestershire had a full take up to their free admission offer on advanced bookings. The offer only applies to the first day of the match.
Coverage :
You can follow the match via the live scorecard available on the website, or via Twitter @GlosCricket
