Match Preview: Gloucestershire v Sussex
9 September 2019
Gloucestershire will have to put Saturday’s Vitality Blast disappointment behind them as they return to Specsavers County Championship action against Sussex at the Bristol County Ground.
Currently in second place in Division Two with a 19-point lead on fourth placed Glamorgan, Gloucestershire will be looking to cement their place in the top three with a victory over sixth placed Sussex who are 16 points behind the promotion places.
The Shire have won their last three Championship games against Leicestershire, Worcestershire and Derbyshire to help them into a commanding position in the table.
With the addition of West Indies fast bowler Shannon Gabriel and the return of Matt Taylor from injury, Head Coach Richard Dawson is feeling better about his playing options:
“Shannon looks like he’s ready to go. It’s exciting from our point of view having him here for the final three games.
It’s nice going into the back end of this season with a few more options available so if we do come unstuck with any niggles then we have a few people to call upon which is pleasing.”
The reverse fixture ended in a draw at Arundel after damp conditions led to a low and slow pitch that both teams found difficult to bowl on. Gareth Roderick top scored with 158 and Ryan Higgins made an unbeaten 119 but Dawson admits the scenario will be far from similar.
“The conditions will be completely different from when we played them at Arundel. It was a tough game, they’re a really good side so we had to play well to stay in the game and compete with them and that’s going to be the same again.”
Gloucestershire’s 13-man squad to face Sussex:
Dent, Bracey, Roderick, Hammond, Smith, Higgins, Charlesworth, J Taylor, van Buuren, Payne, Shaw, M Taylor, Gabriel.
Sussex have only won one of their last six matches in the County Championship, the win a convincing one against Middlesex lead by the bowling of Ollie Robinson who took 14 wickets in the match.
Dawson knows they have to stick to what the team has done well in previous games to get the result they want:
“What we did at Cheltenham and away at Derby was be prepared to play the long game and play for four days not just two or three. We’ve done that consistently throughout the season which is why we are in the position we are.”
Sussex’s squad travelling to Bristol:
Brown, Beer, Garton, Haines, Hooper, Jordan, Rawlins, Robinson, Salt, van Zyl, Warner, Wells, Wiese.
Tomorrow’s match begins at 10:30am, gates open at 8:30am.
