Match Preview: Marshall wants momentum to continue against Surrey
20 August 2015
Hamish Marshall says Gloucestershire will be looking to build on their recent run of three consecutive County Championship victories when they take on Surrey at Bristol.
Since losing to Friday’s visitors at the Oval in June, Glos have beaten Northants, Leicestershire and Glamorgan to move into fourth place in the Division 2 table.
And Marshall, who is now fully fit following a calf injury, believes his team’s new-found consistency can make it four wins from four this week, despite Surrey currently sitting two places above them.
He said: “Surrey are a good side, second in the table and going well so a win here would cement the fact that we are playing some good four day cricket and we’ve turned the corner. We’ve shown glimpses of it but now we are starting to put consistency in there. It’s a big game for us and we’ve just to go out and continue the roll that we’re on.”
To listen to the full interview with Hamish click below
The match comes just three days after Glos suffered a 12 run defeat to Surrey in the Royal London One-Day Cup. The result saw the visitors top their group with Glos settling for second place.
For tickets for Gloucestershire’s Royal London One-Day Cup Quarter Final v Hampshire on August 26 click here
Despite the change in format, Marshall believes that the good form shown by both teams in the 50 over competition will benefit them in the Championship clash.
He said: “I think if you are in good nick in any format it can benefit you across the board. If you are in nick with the bat you are spending time in the middle and if you are in nick with the ball it means you are taking wickets which builds your confidence. Hopefully our guys will carry that into this match.”
The Gloucestershire squad received an added boost this week with the news that influential batsman Michael Klinger has agreed a new two-year contract to stay with the club until 2017.
He said: “Maxy’s an experienced campaigner who’s played with these lads for a while lads and knows their games. On top of that he’s a top bloke. The guys will be delighted to have someone back who is very good at what he does and has a wealth of knowledge to pass on.”
Klinger will miss the match with Surrey with a hamstring injury while seamer Tom Hampton is included in a squad for the first time.
Gloucestershire Squad: Dent, Tavaré (c), Marshall, Roderick (w), Howell, Taylor, Fuller, Miles, Smith, Payne, Norwell, Hammond, Hampton
Surrey
Surrey visit Bristol as a side in form, having won eight matches a row in all competitions.
Their 12 run win against Glos in the Royal London One-Day Cup on Tuesday saw them top the group.
And they currently sit second in the County Championship with just one defeat all season and four wins on the bounce.
They are without Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakarra for the trip down the M4 as he is away on international duty but still have a talented young squad mixed with a few experienced heads.
Surrey Squad: TBA
Key Man
Left hand batsman Rory Burns (pictured) will be looking forward to returning to the Bristol County Ground having hit a career-best List A score of 95 to help Surrey beat Glos in the Royal London One-Day Cup on Tuesday.
The 24-year-old has enjoyed a breakthrough season in the County Championship with 779 runs at an average of 51.9.
He made 158 and 71 in the recent win over Essex and has been in good form in 50 over cricket, averaging over 60.
Opta Facts
- Surrey are unbeaten when winning the toss in their last six against Gloucestershire (W3, D3).
- Gloucestershire are on a run of three consecutive wins, the last time they went on a longer run was in 1986 when they won five on the spin.
- All six of Gloucestershire’s home games have produced a result this season, having lost the first four they have won the last two.
- Arun Harinath has the best bowling economy rate in Division Two this season, going for just 27 runs from his 13 overs so far.
- Chris Dent has snaffled 21 catches this season, more than any other fielder in the Division.
Last Time We Met
LV County Championship Division Two
June 27-29
Surrey 448 (Foakes 118, Norwell 5-112)
Gloucestershire 113 (Marshall 34*, T Curran 7-20) and 155 (Tavare 58, Ansari 6-30)
Surrey won by an innings and 180 runs
Head-to-Head
| Gloucestershire | Surrey | |
| Played | 216 | 216 |
| Won | 54 | 94 |
| Lost | 94 | 54 |
| Drawn/Tied | 68 | 68 |
| Win % | 25 | 44 |
