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Essex T20 preview - Glos look to maintain 100% away record

15 June 2016

Gloucestershire will be looking to maintain their 100% record away from home in this year’s NatWest T20 Blast when they take on Essex Eagles at Chelmsford on Thursday night.

Michael Klinger’s men recorded back-to-back victories at Kent and Middlesex earlier this month and have won their last four Blast matches on the road.

Defeats at home to Sussex in their first game and Glamorgan last time out, have seen them slip to sixth in the South Group.

But batsman Ian Cockbain says the squad are confident of bouncing back with a win against Essex.

He said: “I don’t think there is any real reason why we have been more successful away from home.

“Against Glamorgan last Friday we struggled in the power play and to be 34-3 at that stage had a big impact on our ability to get going and post a big score. In the end we felt our total of 168 was about 30-40 short of what we wanted, given the short boundary on the one side.

“We know both Essex have got some good players but we will just try to focus on what we do. As well as the power play I think the other main area we will be looking to improve is in the death overs.”

The match at the Essex County Ground is floodlit and live on Sky. And Cockbain says the big stage will give the players an extra boost.

He said: “I always love playing on TV and I think that’s the same with most of the lads.  It’s a great opportunity to gain exposure and showcase what you can do to the wider public. The crowd at Essex are always pretty rowdy – especially in the floodlit games – and you hope you don’t end up fielding in front of the same fans for 20 overs!”

Gloucestershire Squad (possible): Michael Klinger (c), Hamish Marshall, Ian Cockbain, Chris Dent, Benny Howell, Jack Taylor, Gareth Roderick (w), Tom Smith, Kieran Noema-Barnett, Graeme Van Buuren, Liam Norwell, Matt Taylor, Craig Miles, Andrew Tye.

Essex Eagles

The Eagles have struggled to get off the ground in the NatWest T20 Blast this year, winning one and losing three of their opening four matches.

Their only victory came against Glamorgan in game two before defeat to Somerset and Middlesex.

They will be buoyed by the fact that they have never lost a home T20 to Thursday night’s visitors.

The Eagles are expected to name an unchanged squad from the one that lost to Middlesex. Featuring the likes of James Foster, Ravi Bopara, Ryan Ten Doeschate , Graham Napier, Jesse Ryder and Wahab Riaz it is one of the most experienced on the circuit.

Essex Squad (possible): Ravi Bopara (c), James Foster (w), David Masters, Graham Napier, Tom Westley, Ryan ten Doeschate, Dan Lawrence, Jaik Mickleburgh, Jamie Porter, Wahab Riaz, Callum Taylor, Jesse Ryder, Matt Quinn, Ashar Zaidi

Key Man - Ryan Ten Doeschate

The clean-hitting Dutchman has been in ominous form in this year’s competition with 171 runs at an average of 85 and a strike rate of 135.

A vastly experience campaigner he has proven himself as one of T20 cricket’s most destructive batsmen with nearly 6000 runs in 280 T20 matches.

As well as starring for Essex, the allrounder has played for the Netherlands and teams in the IPL, Big Bash League, New Zealand, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh.

Last Time We Met

May 24 2015, The Brightside Ground, Bristol

Gloucestershire 199-4 (Klinger 126*, Topley 2-28)

Essex Eagles 165  all out (Westley 67, Smith 5-39)

Gloucestershire won by 34 runs

June 11 2015, The Essex County Ground, Chelmsford

Essex Eagles 181 all out (Pettini 68, Smith 3-26)

Gloucestershire 163-7 (Klinger 104*, Napier 3-30)

Essex won by 18 runs

Opta Facts

• Essex Eagles have won every game they’ve played at home to Gloucestershire (W4).
• Gloucestershire have won four successive matches on the road heading into this contest.
• 10 of the last 11 matches Gloucestershire have been involved in were won by the side batting second.
• Ravi Bopara has bowled 72 balls this summer but only four of them have been sent to the boundary; the best rate of anyone to record 50+ deliveries (5.6%).
• Benny Howell is the 4^th highest wicket taker in this year’s competition with 8.

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