Match Preview | Glamorgan v Gloucestershire | LV= Insurance County Championship
5 April 2023
The first round of LV= County Championship Division Two starts on Thursday as Glamorgan host Gloucestershire at Sophia Gardens.
The weather significantly affected Gloucestershire's preparations after friendlies against Worcestershire and Somerset were both rained off. Shire's only cricket came against Hampshire in a two-day match in Southampton last week.
Despite a stunted pre-season, Gloucestershire will be looking to make it four wins from their last five games at Cardiff, the most recent a ten-wicket victory in 2021.
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Will Porterfield takes charge of a 13-man squad against Glamorgan after Dale Benkenstein returned home to South Africa following a family bereavement.
The ten-wicket victory in 2021 came thanks to 71, plus 3/44 from Tom Price and a second innings haul of 6/43 by Zafar Gohar. Both players are in the squad to face the Welsh county again this week.
Graeme van Buuren will resume his captaincy responsibilities in the County Championship and could be joined in the side by one-day skipper Jack Taylor.
James Bracey’s unbeaten 68 against Hampshire in the warm-up game leaves him in good fettle ahead of the season opener. The wicketkeeper could feature alongside fellow left-handers Ben Charlesworth and Miles Hammond in the batting order.
Marchant de Lange could make his Gloucestershire debut against former club Glamorgan after the South African signed from Somerset last year.
Marcus Harris returns to Gloucestershire after a successful Sheffield Shield campaign during which the Australian international scored 601 runs at an average of 37.56. Experienced batter Chris Dent will join Harris in the top order to kick off his 14th season with the Club.
Ollie Price, Josh Shaw and Ajeet Singh Dale all took wickets in the two-day friendly against Hampshire and will also be eyeing a starting spot on Thursday.
Glamorgan v Gloucestershire | LV= Insurance County Championship Division Two | Watch every ball on the Glos Cricket Match Centre HERE | 11:00am Start Time
David Lloyd will captain a Glamorgan side that should include overseas star Colin Ingram and new signing Harry Podmore.
The hosts, however, will be without 2022 leading wicket taker Michael Hogan who left to join Kent in the off-season.
Your Gloucestershire squad to face Glamorgan:
The Glamorgan squad selected to face Gloucestershire:
David Lloyd (c), Eddie Byrom, Kiran Carlson, Chris Cooke, Dan Douthwaite, James Harris, Colin Ingram, Jamie McIlroy, Sam Northeast, Harry Podmore, Andrew Salter, Billy Root, Timm van der Gugten
