Match Preview: Dawson demands repeat performance for Lancashire trip
8 May 2015
Richard Dawson is looking for a repeat performance from his side against Lancashire this week (May 10-13) following their first win of the season against Essex last time out.
Liam Norwell (pictured) led the way with career best match figures of 10-65 but the Gloucestershire head coach praised his entire bowling attack following the nine wicket victory.
He said: “All four bowlers were properly outstanding throughout the game. They bowled as a pack and all deserved wickets but it was Liam’s day on this occasion.”
“He performed well in the first two matches but was unlucky with missed chances so it was good to see him reap the rewards in this game.”
Gloucestershire have named a 12-man squad for the trip to Manchester with James Fuller’s exclusion the only change from the first three matches.
As well as being happy with the consistency of his bowlers, Dawson said he was also pleased with the way the top order had been performing.
He said: “Tav and Denty have been batting really well as a pair and they have a nice connection together and they make it look very simple.
“It was also a really good innings from Peter Handscomb (66 in the first innings) in tough conditions. The conditions are quite different than he’s used to back home but he’s determined to learn and do well.”
Dawson said that he expected a stern test against an experienced Lancashire squad that contains the likes of Ashwell Prince, Robin Peterson and Peter Siddle (pictured) but he wants his side to go into the game in confident mood.
He said: “We’ve got to be positive in the way we go about everything. We have to have good body language, believe in ourselves and enjoy the challenge.
“It’s just about building on what we’ve done and being consistent.”
Gloucestershire Squad to face Lancashire
Will Tavaré
Chris Dent
Gareth Roderick (wkt)
Hamish Marshall
Geraint Jones (capt)
Kieran Noema-Barnett
Peter Handscomb
Matt Taylor
Liam Norwell
David Payne
Tom Smith
Craig Miles
Lancashire v Gloucestershire Opta Stats
- Draw on the cards? Seven of the last eight meetings between the teams have been drawn with Lancashire winning the other match.
- Unhappy hunting ground…Gloucestershire have won just once in 18 visits to Emirates Old Trafford since 1965 (lost five, drawn 12).
- Hundred (nearly) up…Liam Norwell needs one wicket to reach 100 first-class wickets. 10 of his 99 came against Essex last week.
- Milestone approaching… Keeper/batsman Gareth Roderick needs 18 more to bring up 2000 runs in first-class cricket.
- Regal form… Ashwell Prince has scored 1,060 runs in his last 16 Championship innings, at an average of 70.7.
- Glos batsmen beware…91% of Peter Siddle’s wickets this season have been top six batsmen, the joint-highest proportion.
Lancashire Scouting Report
Under new coach Ashley Giles the Red Rose county have won two and drawn one of their opening three LV= County Championship matches and lead Division 2 by 15 points.
Having been relegated last season, Lancashire underlined their status as promotion favourites with convincing wins over Kent and Derbyshire before a draw against Northants last time out.
They are without England duo James Anderson and Jos Buttler for the visit of Gloucestershire but have an experienced squad that includes former South Africa internationals Ashwell Prince and Alviro Peterson as well as Australian fast bowler Peter Siddle and spinner Simon Kerrigan (pictured) who has one cap for England.
Squad:
Paul Horton
Nathan Buck
Louis Reece
Alviro Peterson
Ashwell Prince
Steven Croft (capt)
Alex Davies (wkt)
Jordan Clark
Peter Siddle
Tom Bailey
Simon Kerrigan
Kyle Jarvis
Key men
Lancashire fans were over the moon when the experienced left hander shelved his plans to retire at the end of last season in favour of a return to Old Trafford.
A player of undoubted pedigree with a Test average of over 41, the South African is in some of the best form of his career with 377 runs at an average of just under 95 including two centuries and a 97 in Lancashire’s opening three games.
Named in the Australian Ashes squad to face England this summer, the bustling fast bowler has taken 11 wickets so far this season at an average of 25.
Renowned as a fierce competitor, he does appear to have one Achilles heel – the English weather. The Victorian, who has taken 192 Test wickets, credits his recent knock of 89 against Kent on the fact that it was too cold to bowl!
Last Time Out:
LV County Championship Division 2
Northamptonshire v Lancashire at Northampton
Northants 385 all out (Crook 91) (Clark 4-101) and 391-5 (Keogh 100, Crook 102*)
Lancashire 436 all out (Prince 153) (Kleinveldt 5-99)
Match Drawn
Northants 12 points, Lancashire 13 points
What they say…
Speaking to the Lancashire CCC website ahead of Gloucestershire’s visit first team coach Glen Chapple said: “They’ve just had a win, and they will give us a very stiff test, no doubt about it.
“They’ve got some very good players, and we won’t be taking them lightly.
“At this stage of the season, everybody will be going flat out to try and get results. It’s not until teams are out of it that things start to change a little bit.
“Our lads will be looking forward to getting back out on the park. They will have had three days rest and be freshened up for Sunday, and they will look to keep their form and winning streak going.
“It’s been an excellent start. Two from three with a strong draw is very good.”
Last time we met…
2013
May 29-June 1
LV County Championship Division Two, Liverpool
Lancashire 310 (Katich 96) (Miles 6-88) and 279 (Prince 64, Cross 64) (McCarter 4-95)
Gloucestershire 222 (A Gidman 110) (Kerrigan 5-68) and 173-9 (A Gidman 46) (Agathangelou 2-18)
September 17-20
LV County Championship Division Two, County Ground, Bristol
Lancashire 310-8 dec (Proctor 106) (W Gidman 5-61) and 195-2 (Reece 97) (Payne 1-53)
Gloucestershire 209 (A Gidman 45) (Smith 4-49)
