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Match Preview: Gloucestershire v Hampshire

10 July 2021

Sunday 11 July sees the start of the biggest first-class match for Gloucestershire in recent history as Hampshire visit Cheltenham in the final group match of the 2021 County Championship.

Yes, Gloucestershire were promoted to Division One on the final day of the 2019 season, but avoiding defeat, or the most lopsided draw possible this week, would see the county fight for the County Championship title alongside the five best teams in the country.

Gloucestershire v Hampshire | Live on the Gloscricket Match Centre HERE

Thanks to the heroics of Dan Worrall and Matt Taylor on the final day of last week’s four-day match at Cheltenham College, The Shire now sit six points ahead of tomorrow’s opponents and 17 points ahead of fourth-placed Surrey.

Ian Harvey will unfortunately be without David Payne who was called up to the England ODI squad last week. He will however welcome back Ryan Higgins to the squad after he missed the first match at Cheltenham to be with his partner for the birth of their first child. Higgins took seven wickets in both matches at the Festival in 2019.

Ian Cockbain made a return to T20 action after suffering an ankle sprain towards the end of June. Whilst he made 34 on Friday against Middlesex, it may be too soon to see him back in the county’s whites.

Club captain Chris Dent is in a similar position having injured a finger fielding in a T20 match against Hampshire. Should he be included in the matchday squad, it will likely be touch and go whether or not he takes to the field.

Stand-in captain, James Bracey made scores of 38 and 88 in his return to the County Championship. In seven matches, Bracey has scored 605 runs at an average of 50.41 with one century and five fifties. Nobody who has played seven matches or less has scored more runs that the man from Winterbourne.

Both Tom and Ollie Price showed their potential against Middlesex with Tom taking a career best 3/76 and the pair contributing 64 runs together in Gloucestershire’s second innings. With Higgins due to make his return to the lineup, Ian Harvey will be spoilt for choice in the bowling department with Shaw, Smith and van Buuren also knocking on the door.

Gloucestershire's squad for tomorrow:

With James Vince unexpectedly called away on international debut during the Surrey fixture, Tom Prest keeps his place in the Hampshire squad after being called up as replacement. The 18-year-old is joined in the squad by leg spinner Mason Crane and fast bowler Scott Currie, who are both knocking down the door for selection after consistent performances throughout the Vitality Blast campaign.

New Zealand all-rounder Colin de Grandhomme is once again set to feature after scoring his highest first-class score against Surrey in his red-ball debut for the county.

Hampshire’s 13-man squad for today’s match:

Kyle Abbott (c), Lewis McManus, Tom Prest, Felix Organ, Tom Alsop, Joe Weatherley, Keith Barker, Brad Wheal, Nick Gubbins, Colin de Grandhomme, Ian Holland & Mason Crane.

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