Match Preview - Gloucestershire v Oxford MCCU
4 April 2019
Gloucestershire head coach Richard Dawson says he wants the three day match against Oxford MCCU at the Bristol County Ground to be time well used in preparation for the forthcoming Championship season.
The opening match in the County Championship against Derbyshire starts on Thursday April 11th, and after four pre-season victories in limited overs contests against Glamorgan and Worcestershire, Dawson's fifth season with the club starts with cautious optimism.
Gloucestershire 12 man squad
Dent (c), Hammond, Bracey, Roderick (wk), G Hankins, J Taylor, van Buuren, Howell, Higgins, Drissell, H Hankins, M Taylor
Oxford MCCU 12 man squad
Heathfield, Seward (wk), Taylor, McBride, Harrison, Shaw, Scott, Ackter, Pettman (c), Wilkinson, Murphy, Charters
"We've done everything that we can to this point to give ourselves the best opportunity to do well" he said. "We had a good trip to La Manga and the batsmen have all had a decent hit out. There are a couple of niggles but every squad has those at this stage and there is still another week to go until the first Championship game, and the aim is to be as prepared as possible for that."
22 players took their places in the team photograph on Media Day on Wednesday 3 April, including new singing Stuart Whittingham, Ben Charlesworth - who will join the squad full time after his exams - and 6'8 bowler Adrian Neill, who made his full Scotland debut during the winter. At 25, Neill is the oldest player on the Academy Plus programme, which also includes teenagers Jack Gibbs, Harry Hankins and Greg Willows.
"Adrian is very raw but he has had a good winter and his height gives him a point of difference" Dawson added. "He's trained well but he's still developing, and it's the same story with Jack Taylor's leg spin. He's done some bowling in pre-season to try and build some confidence and we'll continue to encourage him because learning a new skill is not an overnight solution."
Oxford MCCU - coached by Ben Charlesworth's father Graham - have already drawn two games against Middlesex and Hampshire, and while they will provide inexperienced opposition, Dawson is concentrating on what he wants from his own side.
"It's not a game to do anything too funky" he concluded. "It's three days for the batsmen to hopefully get some more time at the crease, and for the bowlers to get some overs into their legs and maintain a good line and length. I want to see the basics nailed down. It's a stepping stone towards the Championship game with Derbyshire and an opportunity to sharpen up our fitness, skills and mental approach."
Overseas signing Dan Worrall is due to arrive in the country today and was not considered for selection.
