Fuller says Glos in confident mood ahead of Essex T20 clash - with video
22 May 2015
Fast bowler James Fuller says Gloucestershire are in confident mood ahead of Sunday’s NatWest T20 Blast clash with Essex Eagles.
The team cruised to a seven wicket victory over Middlesex last Friday and fell just six runs short against a talented Sussex Sharks two days later.
In contrast Sunday’s visitors have lost both their opening matches – by 17 runs to Hampshire and 44 to Surrey.
But Fuller says the squad won’t be taking the Eagles lightly and need to improve their consistency if they are to make an impression in the tournament.
To watch a video interview with James’ views on the first two matches, Essex, the return of Michael Klinger and the Glos players catching the eye in this year’s Blast click below.
He said: “Essex are a pretty good outfit in Twenty20 and they’ve got key players like (Ryan) Ten Doeschate and (Jesse) Ryder – Shaun Tait with the ball. I guess we will be looking to bat the way we did against Middlesex and bowl the way we did against Sussex and hopefully that formula will bring us the victory.”
Fuller has made a good start to white ball cricket in 2015, taking the vital scalps of England internationals Nick Compton against Middlesex and Luke Wright vs Sussex Sharks. He was also promoted up the batting order against the Sharks but with the likely return of Michael Klinger this Sunday the pack may well be shuffled again for the Essex match.
Klinger returns to Nevil Road after winning this year’s Big Bash League with Perth Scorchers and finishing as the tournament's highest run scorer.
And Fuller says the squad are looking forward to having him back in the dressing room.
He said: “It will be massive. He’s a huge part of our campaigns on all fronts – T20, Championship and One Day. He’s consistently been a big run scorer not just here but in the Big Bash League. He brings stability to the top of the order.
“He is experienced, he knows so much and the guys are really looking forward to having him back.”
While recognising that Gloucestershire’s batsmen will need to be in better form against Essex than in the previous match vs Sussex Sharks, Fuller reserved special praise for opener Hamish Marshall - who made 56 in 38 balls against Middlesex and 45 in 26 balls at Hove – and Ian Cockbain who made a career best 91 not out vs Middlesex.
He said: “Hamish is a very delicate batsman. Some of the shots are amazing, the flicks especially. To have that confidence and skill to flick the ball over fine leg constantly – he doesn’t miss out much - is really impressive. Then you’ve got Coey with more of a power-hitting approach – he hits the ball really hard and showed against Middlesex what he can do.”
And Fuller says he is looking forward to another electric atmosphere at the Bristol County Ground on Sunday – which is also the club’s T20 family day.
He added: “It’s good fun. The Championship is good but with Twenty20 it’s a much bigger crowd. With the Bank Holiday weekend we hope people will come down and get behind us.”
To book your ticket for Sunday click here.
James Fuller is sponsored by Messier-Bugatti-Dowty
