Match Preview: Geraint Jones on Glos v Kent in the LV County Championship
17 May 2015
Gloucestershire v Kent
Listen to Glos captain Geraint Jones thoughts ahead of the visit of his former side Kent.
Gloucestershire v Kent Opta Stats
- Gloucestershire have won 50 Championship games against Kent. A draw in this match would be the 50th between these teams.
- Gloucestershire have won five of their last nine against Kent (drawn three, lost one).
- Hamish Marshall needs 67 runs to reach 13,000 in first-class cricket.
- Daniel Bell-Drummond is one of four players to hit two 50+ scores this season and convert both into centuries. Brendan Taylor, Will Bragg and Varun Chopra are the others.
- Darren Stevens has taken the most wickets bowled this season, six.
Gloucestershire - Cockbain, Dent, Roderick, Handscomb, Marshall, Jones, Noema-Barnett, Miles, Payne, Norwell, M Taylor, Hampton
Kent Scouting Report
Kent are currently bottom of the LV County Championship after unhappy start to their campaign which sees them without a win in four attempts.
They have drawn two and lost two so far in 2015 and were denied a first win against Glamorgan last time out but due to stubborn resistance from the tail (see scorecard below).
To compound their plight skipper and talisman Rob Key has dropped himself from the first team in order to rediscover his best form leaving Sam Northeast to take over as skipper.
Despite their current league position Kent boast a talented squad with a balance of seasoned pros including England spinner James Tredwell and allrounder Darren Stevens and exciting youngsters including opener Daniel Bell-Drummond, ‘keeper Sam Billings and seamer Matt Coles.
Possible team
Daniel Bell-Drummond
Joe Denly
Brendan Nash
Sam Northeast (capt)
Fabian Cowdrey
Darren Stevens
Sam Billings (wkt)
Callum Haggett
Matt Coles
James Tredwell
Ivan Thomas
Key Men
Sam Billings
The 23-year-old ‘keeper/batsman made his England debut in the recent washed out ODI against Ireland and has been tipped to challenge the current man in possession Jos Buttler for a regular place in the side.
An explosive batsman, he was the top scorer in last year’s Royal London One Day Cup and was named Kent player of the year in 2014.
He has yet to hit his top form in 2015 but as a player who has been likened to South Africa star AB de Villiers he will be someone Gloucestershire will have to look out for.
Matt Coles
The current third highest wicket taker in Division 2 (behind Lancashire’s Kyle Jarvis and our very own Liam Norwell), seamer Matt Coles has had an up and down time since making his breakthrough in 2012. Over 50 first class wickets in that year earned him a place in the England Lions and a move to Hampshire.
But after an unsuccessful spell there he re-joined his home county this year. He is also a dangerous lower order batsman.
Last Time Out
LV County Championship Division 2
Kent v Glamorgan at the Spitfire Ground, Canterbury
Kent 357 all out (Bell-Drummond 123) (Hogan 5-71) and 327 all out (Denly 66) (Hogan 4-65)
Glamorgan 281 all out (Bragg 104) (Thomas 3-40) and 309-9 (Cosker 69) Haggett (4-61)
Match Drawn
Kent 9 points, Glamorgan 10 points
What they say
Kent all-rounder Calum Haggett, who claimed career-best figures of 4/61 in his side’s last match against Glamorgan said: "There's still a lot of postivity in the dressing room so we'll be looking to bounce back in the NatWest T20 Blast and then on to Bristol to play Gloucestershire next week."
Top run scorer Daniel Bell-Drummond said: “I am pretty impressed with how I’ve been feeling and glad with the form I’ve been in.
“Hopefully, I can try and continue in our next few championship games. I am just glad to cash in, make it count and go big. I always try and hit hundreds and as many runs as I can. Hopefully, I can keep my form going.”
Last Time We Met
2014
May 18-21
LV County Championship Division Two, Bristol County Ground
Gloucestershire 252 (Roderick 59) (Riley 3-51) and 443-6 (Marshall 118) (Stevens 5-87)
Kent 114 (Billings 42) (W Gidman 4-14) and 291 (Ben Harmison 125) (W Gidman 3-54)
Gloucestershire won by 290 runs
September 23-26
LV County Championship Division Two, Spitfire Ground, Canterbury
Gloucestershire 179 (Payne 54*) (Claydon 5-61) and 432 (A Gidman 140) (Griffiths 6-63)
Kent 164 (Billings 73) (Miles 3-20) and 203 (Northeast 62) (Smith 4-35)
Gloucestershire won by 244 runs
