Let's Make It Six Of The Best - John
16 September 2013
John Bracewell is challenging Gloucestershire’s players to win their last two LV=County Championship games and achieve a pre-season target.
The Director of Cricket wants victories in the matches against Lancashire at Bristol, starting tomorrow, and Glamorgan at Cardiff next week to make it six in the Second Division this summer.
John told this website: “We talked about the need to win six Championship games to be in the shake-up for promotion and we have four up to now.
“Unfortunately, we have lost three, which is too many, and that is why we are not closer to the two leading clubs.
“But it is still a target to win six and if we do it will demonstrate clear progress in four-day cricket, something we feel we are making.”
Lancashire will arrive at Bristol as runaway Second Division leaders, already assured of a quick return to the top flight.
Northamptonshire look set to accompany them, but Gloucestershire can still harbour realistic hopes of a third placed finish.
“We want to finish strongly,” said John. “We have shown we can live with the top sides in the division this season and we haven’t surrendered games as in the past.
“A typical example of that was the way we battled it out for a draw with Lancashire at Liverpool. They will provide another excellent test at Bristol.”
Michael Klinger leads Gloucestershire for the last time this season. The skipper flies home to Australia for their domestic programme on Sunday and misses the Glamorgan match.
Gloucestershire (from) M.Klinger (capt), C.Dent, G.Roderick (wkt), A.Gidman, H.Marshall, B.Howell, W.Gidman, T.Smith, C.Miles, D.Payne, M.Taylor, G.McCarter, I.Cockbain.
