Match Preview: Glos keep the faith for Essex trip
1 May 2015
Gloucestershire have named the same squad for the third game in a row as they travel to Chelmsford to face Essex in the LV Championship starting on May 3.
Despite some fine individual performances the squad are still searching for their first win of the season following the draw with Northants and a seven wicket defeat to Derbyshire.
Having been behind after the first innings of both games, assistant head coach Ian Harvey said improving in this part of the match would be vital.
He said: “There are massive positives from the first two games but we need to put performances together over all four days.
“We haven’t been performing when the pressure is in the first innings and that’s where we need to improve – that’s been the case not just in the last two matches but over the last few years. In both games we have got ourselves into good positions and failed to capitalise.”
Although Glos are still looking for a first victory, Harvey said confidence is still high after a spirited second innings display saw them score 411 with three players passing 50. Other positives were the form of ‘keeper/batsman Gareth Roderick who has now scored half centuries in each of his first four innings of the season and Matt Taylor (pictured) who took his first five wicket haul of 2015.
Looking ahead to the match against Essex, Harvey said the challenge was for batsmen to go on and get big hundreds when set and for fielders to start taking more chances after a number of crucial dropped catches in both games.
He added: “It is always tough going to Chelmsford. We don’t know what sort of wicket to expect but Essex are always a very strong team. Foster is a good leader and they have some good experience in the team.
“We just need to be more consistent and make sure we are in a position on the last day where we can push for the win rather than trying to save the game.”
Gloucestershire Squad to face Essex
4. Will Tavaré
15. Chris Dent
27. Gareth Roderick (wkt)
9. Hamish Marshall
8. Geraint Jones (capt)
11. Kieran Noema-Barnett
54. Peter Handscomb
26. James Fuller
36. Matt Taylor
24. Liam Norwell
14. David Payne
6. Tom Smith
34. Craig Miles
Essex v Gloucestershire Opta Stats
- Draw specialists…Six of the last eight clashes between these teams have been drawn; the other two were won by Essex.
- History’s not on our side…Gloucestershire won their first two games against Essex at Chelmsford, in 1928 and 1930, but have not tasted victory since (lost five, drawn three).
- Young gun… Against Surrey, Essex’s Dan Lawrence, at 17 years 290 days became the third youngest player to score a Championship century.
- Mr Consistency… Gareth Roderick has reached 50 in eight of his last 12 Championship innings.
- Battle of the centurions…Since the start of last season only Worcestershire’s Daryl Mitchell (five) has scored more Division Two centuries than Will Tavaré and Essex batsman Nick Browne and (four).
Essex Scouting Report
Despite losing key all-rounders Ryan ten Doeschate and Ravi Bopara to the IPL, Alastair Cook to England duty and young seamer Reece Topley to injury , Essex have begun the season in promising form with a win over Kent and a draw with Surrey.
This takes them to nine games unbeaten in the four-day format.
Alongside an experienced core of players including James Foster (pictured), Jesse Ryder, Monty Panesar and David Masters Essex are putting their faith in youth this year.
This paid off at The Oval where 17-year-old Dan Lawrence becoming the third youngest century maker in Championship cricket history, supported by Nick Browne (24) who also made a hundred.
Possible Team:
7. James Foster (capt, wkt)
10. Nick Browne
32. Jaik Mickleburgh
28. Dan Lawrence
8. Kishen Velani
76. Jesse Ryder
44. Jamie Porter
83. Greg Smith
17. Graham Napier
9. David Masters
77. Monty Panesar
Last Time Out:
LV County Championship Division 2
Surrey v Essex at The Oval
Surrey 340 all out (Davies 81) (Napier 3-63) and 95-2 (Sangakarra 43)
Essex 610-8 dec (Browne 143) (Lawrence 161) (Ansari 4-149)
Lancashire won by 250 runs
Surrey 9 points Essex, 12 points
Key men
It is never dull when the Ryder is around with the 30-year-old creating countless headlines on and off the pitch during his career.
Capable of making things happen, the New Zealander was Essex’s leading wicket-taker last year with 44 wickets in his first season of Championship cricket. He also scored more than 600 runs at an average of 37, including 133 v Glos at Chelmsford.
From an England perspective Foster is arguably one of the most underrated and underused players on the county circuit. The 35-year-old - who played the last of his international matches in 2002 is Essex’s captain, ‘keeper and a mainstay of their batting line-up.
He made 949 runs at an average of over 45 in 2014 and continued to live-up to his deserved reputation as one of county cricket’s finest glovemen.
What they say…
Speaking to the Essex Chronicle before the start of the season, head coach Paul Grayson said: “We are really optimistic about the season. We are very positive and I am very happy with the squad, between the balance of youth and experience.
"We had an excellent year in all three formats last year, but we just fell short. If we can start this year the way we finished last year in four-day cricket then that will give the squad a real boost.
"If we can get an early Championship win on the board that would be great and in the other competitions we don't look too far ahead because you need to qualify through the group first.
"There is a great belief within the group that we can go that little bit further this year."
Last time we met…
2014
April 27-30
LV County Championship Division Two, County Ground, Bristol
Gloucestershire 134 (Dent 61) (Masters 6-48) and 251-2 (A Gidman 119* Tavaré 100*)
Essex 305-8 dec (Foakes 132) (McCarter 3-64)
July 29-August 1
LV County Championship Division Two, the County Ground, Chelmsford
Gloucestershire 224 (Payne 48*) (Topley 5-53) and 325 (A Gidman 53)
Essex 541 (Bopara 147, Ryder 133) (J Taylor 4-125) and 10-0
