Match Preview: Return of the Kling - Michael's back for Essex T20 Match
22 May 2015
Gloucestershire welcome back Michael Klinger for their NatWest T20 Blast match against Essex Eagles on Sunday.
The Australian returns to Bristol for a third season after a stellar domestic campaign that saw him win the Big Bash league with the Perth Scorchers and lead Western Australia the runners-up spot in the Sheffield Shield.
The 34-year-old was in fine form throughout the Aussie summer, scoring more than 1000 runs at an average of 58 in the four-day format and finishing as the highest run scorer in the Big Bash in front of many of the biggest names in world cricket.
And the right hander – who will captain the side in T20 and One Day cricket - says it is good to be back at Gloucestershire.
To listen to an exclusive interview with Michael please click below.
Gloucestershire have named a 14 man squad for the match against Essex Eagles – the same 13 from the first two games with the addition of Michael Klinger who replaces Ian Cockbain as captain.
Essex, led by Ryan Ten Doeschate have also named a 14 strong squad that includes Ravi Bopara who is back from the IPL alongside Australian fast bowler Shaun Tait. They are hopeful that New Zealand allrounder Jesse Ryder and experienced batsman Mark Pettini will both be available following injury.
Gloucestershire From:
(2) Michael Klinger (capt), (15) Chris Dent, (28) Ian Cockbain, (54) Peter Handscomb, (9) Hamish Marshall, (8) Geraint Jones (wkt), (11) Kieran Noema-Barnett, (13) Benny Howell, (10) Jack Taylor, (26) James Fuller, (6) Tom Smith, (14) David Payne, (36) Matt Taylor, (20) Robbie Montgomery.
Essex From:
(27) Ryan ten Doeschate (Capt), (24) Mark Pettini, (10) Nick Browne, (76) Jesse Ryder, (25) Ravi Bopara, (83) Greg Smith, (8) Kishen Velani, (7) James Foster (wkt), (17) Graham Napier, (51) Adeel Malik, (12) Callum Taylor, (9) David Masters, (6) Reece Topley, (4) Shaun Tait
Opta Stats
- Gloucestershire’s win against Essex at Cheltenham last year was their first in five attempts against the Eagles.
- Essex’s 122-run win against Gloucestershire in 2011 was the third largest run-margin victory in English T20s.
- Ravi Bopara has reached 50 in three of his five T20 innings against Gloucestershire, averaging 56.8 with a strike rate of 142.8.
- Chris Dent has scored 117 runs from the 73 balls he has faced against Essex, being dismissed twice.
View from the oppostion
Speaking after losing their first two matchs to Surrey and Hampshire respectively, Essex captain Ryan ten Doeschate said: “I’m not overly concerned about the two defeats at this stage but I must say that the way we’ve played is a slight concern.
“We wanted to get some positive results quickly in this competition and so we need to get some wins on the board soon but as I say, it was the way in which we lost our first two matches which has been particularly disappointing.
“Being without Ravi Bopara, Mark Pettini and Tom Westley for both matches and then having Jesse Ryder also missing the Surrey game obviously wasn’t helpful but there are no excuses for the manner of the defeats.
“We are under pressure in the two games this weekend to get some positive results but having said that, it doesn’t help anyone to start panicking. What we will do is go back to the drawing board, assess where we went wrong, look at our strengths and then take our game forward in a positive manner.
“Having some experienced players available once again can only help that process.”
Key men
Essex captain Ryan ten Doeschate only landed in the country at 6am before the Eagles match against Hants and only signed his registration documents on the team bus 35 minutes before the five o'clock deadline after flying back from the IPL but still top-scored with 68.
An exciting allrounder, the South African-born Dutch international is renowned a destructive batsman of the highest order.
Recent Form
The Eagles finished top of the South Group last year recording the joint most wins (10) of any team during the group stage.
They were beaten in the quarter finals by eventual champions the Birmingham Bears.
2014 NatWest T20 Blast Head to Head
June 13
Chelmsford
Gloucestershire 162-6 (20 overs) (Marshall 74) (Masters 2-17)
Essex Eagles 163-2 (18.3 overs) (Bopara 66*) (Smith 1-26)
Essex Eagles won by 8 wickets
July 20
College Ground, Cheltenham
Essex Eagles 183-7 (20 overs) (Bopara 51) (Howell 4-26)
Gloucestershire 186-4 (19. 4 overs) (Dent 55) (Napier 1-22)
Gloucestershire won by 6 wickets
