Glos v Essex Championship preview (with video)
20 June 2015
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire will wait on a number of late fitness tests before naming their squad to face Essex on Sunday.
Matt Taylor is ruled out with a back injury but Hamish Marshall may return.
Wicketkeeper Gareth Roderick is also in contention to play as a batsman after making a good recovery from a thumb injury but he will not be fit enough to keep wicket.
To watch a video interview with head coach Richard Dawson discussing their chances against Essex, his thoughts on why they are yet to win at Bristol and the form of Craig Miles, click below:
Squad (possible) from: Dent, Tavare, Klinger, Marshall, Jones, Roderick, Cockbain, Howell, Noema-Barnett, J Taylor, Miles, Payne, Norwell
Essex
Essex currently sit sixth in the Division Two table, one place and a single point ahead of Gloucestershire.
They are expected to play a much-changed team from the one that lost to Glos by nine wickets earlier this season.
England skipper Alistair Cook is set to play as he continues his Ashes preparation while Ravi Bopara and Ryan ten Doeschate will feature having been on IPL duty in April.
Young seamer Reece Topley is missing after being called up for England’s T20 clash with New Zealand
Essex go into the match in confident form after beating Derbyshire by an innings and 31 runs in their last match.
Squad (possible) from: Browne, Cook, Westley, Bopara, Ryder, ten Doeschate, Foster(wkt), Napier, Salisbury, Nijjar, Porter, Masters
Opta Facts Gloucestershire v Essex
- Essex are unbeaten in their last 12 away matches at Gloucestershire (won four, drawn eight).
- Gloucestershire have drawn three and lost five of their last eight home fixtures; they have won four of their last eight away (drawn three, lost one).
- Alastair Cook needs 73 runs to reach 17,000 first-class runs. He has 49 first-class centuries.
- Geraint Jones needs five runs to reach 9,000 first-class runs.
- Gloucestershire are aiming to win their 50th match against Essex.
- Craig Miles is the third highest wicket taker in Division T20 (33) and only Kyle Jarvis (Lancs) and Chris Rushworth (Durham) have taken more five wicket hauls this year.
Head to Head
| Gloucestershire | Essex | |
| Games | 142 | 142 |
| Won | 49 | 45 |
| Lost | 45 | 49 |
| Drawn/Tied | 48 | 48 |
| Win % | 34.5 | 31.7 |
Last time we met
May 3-6 2015
LV= County Championship Division 2
Essex 159 (Mickleburgh 42) (Norwell 4-32) and 199 (Velani 58) (Norwell 6-33)
Gloucestershire 245 (Handscomb 66) (Porter 4-59) 114-1 (Tavare 57)
Gloucestershire won by nine wickets
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