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Match Preview: Smith hopes Glos can maintain 100% T20 record over Middlesex

2 June 2016

Gloucestershire have been boosted by the arrival of Australian fast bowler Andrew Tye as they look to maintain their 100% record against Middlesex.

The Perth Scorchers star is set to make his debut at Merchant Taylor’s School after jetting in from the IPL earlier this week.

Despite not playing a match in this year’s tournament he comes into his first NatWest T20 Blast campaign off the back of a superb couple of seasons that led to him making his international bow for Australia earlier this year.

His arrival has been welcomed by new team mate and former Middlesex spinner Tom Smith.

He said: “It’s a really exciting signing for the club. Having an experienced guy used to bowling at the back end of an innings will be great and we look forward to having him in the starting line-up for the Middlesex match.”

Gloucestershire have never lost to Middlesex but Smith is expecting a testing match on Thursday night.

He said: “It is going to be a very tough game. They will have their overseas players Brendan McCullum and Adam Voges and Eoin Morgan will be back from the IPL.

“It will be a very different team from the one we played at the start of the tournament last year. But our record against Middlesex is fantastic so we will take that confidence into the game.”

Smith was the leading wicket taker after the group stage of last year’s T20 Blast and needs just three wickets to become the first Gloucestershire player to take 50 in the shortest form of the game.

He is currently one behind team mate David Payne and former Glos favourite Jon Lewis.

The left armer attributes his personal success in T20 cricket to his ability to think ahead and stay calm under pressure.

He said: “In T20 cricket it is also about trying to be one step ahead all the time. If you bowl two dot balls you know the next one will be a big shot so it’s about trying to work out what to bowl in order to get them to hit to a certain area.

“You have to accept that sometimes you will go for sixes so you just try to stay calm, stay relaxed, keep positive and try to nail that next ball all the time.”

Gloucestershire are set to make at least two changes to the side that faced Sussex Sharks last time out. Andrew Tye is set for his debut with Craig Miles making way while Gareth Roderick will take over the gloves from Cameron Bancroft who has returned to Australia.

Gloucestershire Squad: Michael Klinger (c), Ian Cockbain, Chris Dent,  Benny Howell, Hamish Marshall, Kieran Noema-Barnett., Liam Norwell, David Payne, Gareth Roderick (wkt), Tom Smith,  Jack Taylor, Matt Taylor,  Andrew Tye, Graeme Van Buuren.

You can follow the action from Gloucestershire's trip to Middlesex as it happens by following @gloscricket on Twitter.

Middlesex: Middlesex opened their NatWest T20 Blast account in fine style last week with a 69 run demolition of Hampshire.

Skipper Dawid Malan led from the front with 93 off 48 balls has his side posted an unassailable 193.

Despite the convincing win there are due to be changes to his side tonight with New Zealand legend Brendan McCullum and England skipper Eoin Morgan set for their first appearances for the season after returning from the IPL.

Gloucestershire will face a familiar foe in the Middlesex line-up with former player James Fuller likely to start fresh from taking 5-70 on his County Championship debut.

And, speaking to the Hampstead and Highgate Express the fast bowler said he would have mixed emotions come Thursday night.

He said: “I keep in contact with the Gloucestershire guys all the time and check how they’re going, so to play against them will be fun – but I’m also going to be nervous because I know how good they are.

“They’ve got so many good players – people like Michael Klinger, Benny Howell, Ian Cockbain.

“They’ve worked really hard on their one-day skills and they really do target the T20 and 50-over formats during the summer, so we’re going to have to work hard against them. I’m sure they’ll know what I do – but I know 
exactly what they do as well!

“I’ll have a lot of information to give the rest of the guys at Middlesex about what sort of plans they’ll be coming here with – their strengths and weaknesses – and hopefully we’ll get the win.”

Middlesex Squad

Dawid Malan (c), James Franklin, James Fuller, James Harris, Ryan Higgins, Brendon McCullum, Eoin Morgan, Ravi Patel, Harry Podmore, Toby Roland-Jones, John Simpson, Nathan Sowter, Paul Stirling, Adam Voges.

Opta Facts

• Gloucestershire have won seven successive matches against Middlesex.
• Middlesex have won three of their last four games.
• Seven of the last eight games involving Gloucestershire have been won the side batting second.
• Michael Klinger has averaged 87 from his 13 Blast innings since the start of last summer for Gloucestershire.

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