Final preview: Jones tells fans and players to "dare to dream" ahead of RL Cup Final
18 September 2015
“Dare to dream” is the message from Geraint Jones ahead of the Royal London One-Day Cup Final.
The match will be the 39-year-old’s last as a professional and he says he would like nothing better than to go out by securing Gloucestershire’s first trophy in over a decade.
He said: “To finish that way is the kind of thing dreams are made of and I have been daring to dream. Personally it would be incredible but as much as that I know how much it would mean to Gloucestershire. To be able to walk off with my team mates and collect the trophy – let’s dare to dream.”
To watch the full video interview click below
In contrast to many of his team mates Geraint has experienced the pressure and excitement of performing in big matches at the Home of Cricket.
He counts the 2005 Ashes curtain-raiser and winning man-of-the-match for England after top scoring and taking five catches in an ODI v Australia as particularly special memories.
But rather than overload the squad with information he says he will simply encourage them to play with freedom and enjoy the experience.
He said: “It’s a great occasion - the Home of Cricket is a wonderful place. We’ve worked hard to get to the final so ultimately now it’s about enjoying the day and when you do that you play well and hopefully we’ll come out on top.”
Having enjoyed a loan spell at the county in 2014, Geraint returned to Gloucestershire on a full-time basis in 2015 tasked with helping to turn a side full of potential into one that could deliver consistently.
Although some people have been surprised at seeing them reach the RL Cup final, Geraint isn’t one of them.
He said: “I knew there was some incredible talent, especially among the bowling ranks but ultimately it has been a fantastic team effort. That’s something that’s come about because they are all really good mates. That’s something I’ve really enjoyed in Bristol when I’ve been away from my family, we all meet up regularly and the rewards for that have come out on the pitch. They scrap for each other and really enjoy each other’s victories.”
Gloucestershire head coach Richard Dawson has named a 13 man squad for the final. Craig Miles – who was recently named on the England Performance Programme – returns but fellow seamer Liam Norwell is ruled out through injury. Long-term absentees Ian Cockbain and Matt Taylor are still missing.
Gloucestershire Squad
Michael Klinger (c), Chris Dent, Will Tavare, Hamish Marshall, Gareth Roderick (w), Geraint Jones Benny Howell, Jack Taylor, Kieran Noema-Barnett, James Fuller, Craig Miles, Tom Smith, David Payne
Surrey Squad
Gareth Batty (capt), James Burke, Rory Burns, Sam Curran, Tom Curran, Steven Davies, Jade Dernbach, Matthew Dunn, Ben Foakes, Aneesh Kapil, Azhar Mahmood, Jason Roy, Kumar Sangakkara, Gary Wilson (w).
Opta Facts
- Gloucestershire are taking part in their 10th List A final; winning all but one of their previous appearances, losing to Surrey in their only previous meeting at this stage of the competition.
- This will be Surrey’s 11th List A final; they claimed victory in their last three appearances (W5 L5).
- Six of the last seven finals have been won by the side chasing.
- Of the last four meetings between these two teams, Surrey have won three of them.
- Tom Curran took a four wicket haul (4/65) in the last match played between these sides back in August 2015; his best figures this season and only one of three instances of a Surrey bowler taking 4+ List A scalps this campaign (James Burke and Sam Curran).
- Rory Burns recorded his highest ever List A score in that match (95); helping to seal a 12 run win for the Surrey side.
- Surrey batsmen have registered six centuries between them this season; more than any other county.
- However, on average one in every 41 balls bowled by Surrey this season has been wide; only Sussex (37) have managed a more wayward record.
- Gloucestershire’s Jack Taylor has the highest strike rate of any batsman to record at least 100 runs this season (159.8).
- Michael Klinger has strung together a run of five successive List A scores of at least 50 heading into this match; the first time he has ever done so in his career.
