First team cricket returns to the Brightside Ground
27 March 2017
Gloucestershire's first class season begins on Tuesday as Durham MCCU make the trip to the Brightside Ground for the second season running.
Last year's game - which ended in a draw - started on March the 31st, but this time the first day will set a new record for the earliest start to Gloucestershire's domestic matches.
While other teams have been abroad on pre-season tours, Gloucestershire have dodged the showers with friendlies against Oxford University and Somerset, although a scheduled one day fixture at Taunton was washed out so head coach Richard Dawson says the next three days offer important game time.
"Because of the small amount of cricket that we've had, we want the batsmen to spend time at the crease and the bowlers to find some rhythm, it's as simple as that."
"Some lads find their feet quicker than others. We did some good stuff in patches in the game at Taunton, but equally some of our play was poor and that's similar to any pre-season. We have picked teams to try and give everyone some time in the middle and if some of them miss out because of rain then that's unfortunate, but it's been good to see Will Tavare and Graeme van Buuren both make runs already."
Both Tavare and van Buuren are selected in a squad of 12 which also includes Chris Liddle, who could make his first class debut for Gloucestershire having only played white ball cricket last season.
Squad : Dent, Tavare, Roderick (c), van Buuren, Hankins, Mustard, J.Taylor, Payne, M.Taylor, Norwell, Liddle, Currill.
Durham MCCU continue to be coached by Paul Grayson, who was also recently appointed as coach of the Yorkshire Diamonds for the new season. Two of their squad - Jack Clark and Ed Pollock - played in the 2016 fixture.
Admission throughout the match is free of charge, with play starting at 11.00am.
