Match preview: "Words are easy, it's action time now" - Jones says batsmen must improve ahead of Surrey match
26 June 2015
Gloucestershire skipper Geraint Jones says the side need to improve their batting if they are to return to winning ways against Surrey in the LV=County Championship (starting this Saturday).
The team have lost of their last four matches, being bowled out for under 200 on three occasions including 116 in the first innings against Essex last time out.
Geraint said: “Getting bowled out for 116 against Essex was unacceptable. As individuals we have all been looking at ourselves and how we can be more consistent.
“That’s where our discussions have been. We need the guys putting themselves into positions where they can turn starts into big hundreds. Maxy (Michael Klinger) is the only one that has done that so far and the rest of us generally haven’t been doing our fair share.
“Preparation and application are the main things but words are easy, its action time now.”
Gloucestershire are hoping to strengthen their batting order with the return of Hamish Marshall after a calf injury but Gareth Roderick will not travel to London. The only other change to the squad sees two spinners – Jack Taylor and Tom Smith – included together for the first time while David Payne and Kieran Noema-Barnett miss out.
The Championship clash is sandwiched in between two NatWest T20 Blast Matches – a home game with Sussex Sharks the day before and a match against Surrey at the Brit Oval the day after.
But Geraint refuses to blame the interchanging between formats as a reason for the side’s inconsistency with the bat.
On the positive front he says he has been pleased with the form of the bowling attack.
He said: “I’ve been really happy with the bowling to be honest, it’s not too much of an area of concern. The bowlers probably weren’t at their best in the first innings against Essex but we know if we can put totals on the board then our bowlers can win us matches.”
Looking ahead to the meeting with Surrey Geraint said that playing on a good batting track at the Kia Oval would be a good opportunity for the batsmen to rediscover their form.
He said: “We know that if you get in at The Oval it’s a fantastic track so the batters should be looking forward to it. It’s generally a very good wicket to play on.
“They have had a few injuries so we will have to wait and see what side they put out. They have still been going well and had a good win last week.”
Gloucestershire Team News
Squad: Chris Dent, Will Tavaré, Michael Klinger, Ian Cockbain, Hamish Marshall, Geraint Jones (capt/wkt), Benny Howell, Jack Taylor, Tom Smith, James Fuller, Craig Miles, Liam Norwell
Surrey Scouting Report
Batsman Rory Burns returns to the squad having recovered from his horrific collision with Moises Henriques in the T20 Blast match v Sussex a fortnight ago. Jason Roy is also back having helped England beat New Zealand in the recent One Day International and T20 Series.
Despite a lengthy injury list Surrey have been in good form this season with just one defeat in the LV=County Championship. They are currently second in the table, 11 points ahead of third-placed Glamorgan.
Surrey Team News
Squad: Gareth Batty (capt), Zafar Ansari, Rory Burns, James Burke, Sam Curran, Tom Curran, Matthew Dunn, Dean Elgar, Ben Foakes (wkt), Arun Harinath, Tim Linley, Jason Roy, Dominic Sibley, Gary Wilson
Last Time Out
June 21-24 at Derby
LV=County Championship Division Two
Surrey 239 (Wilson 65, White 3-43) and 315 (Burke 73, Footitt 4-102)
Derbyshire 207 (Rutherford 59, Fletcher 4-58) and 125 (White 23, Batty 4-32)
For a full scorecard click here
Key man
Jason Roy returns to the squad after opening the batting for England in their thrilling one day international series win over New Zealand.
The hard-hitting 24-year-old has made 514 runs at an average of 64 and boasts the highest strike rate (94.49) of any player to have scored more than 300 runs in either division of the County Championship this year.
Surrey v Gloucestershire Opta Facts
- Surrey have won one of their last seven home games (lost three, drawn three).
- Gloucestershire are unbeaten in their last seven on the road (won four, drawn three).
- Ian Cockbain needs 39 runs to reach 2,000 first-class runs.
- Of those to play more than once this season, Michael Klinger (27.6%) has scored the highest percentage of team runs.
- Zafar Ansari needs four wickets to become the sixth player to score at least 1,000 runs and take 50+ wickets since the start of last season.
Last Time We Met
Home
June 9-12 2014 at the Bristol County Ground
LV=County Championship Division Two
Gloucestershire 112 (Jones 28, Dunn 4-37) and 506-6 (Cockbain 151*, Batty 2-96)
Surrey 626-6 dec (Burns 199, W Gidman 2-75)
Match Drawn
Away
May 11-14 at the Kia Oval
Gloucestershire 168 (Tavaré 68, Dunn 5-48) and 230 (Dent 54, Tremlett 6-59)
Surrey 132 (Fuller 6-32) and 267-6 (Smith 103, M Taylor 2-48)
Surrey won by 4 wickets
LV = County Championship Division Two Table
Head to Head
| Surrey | Gloucestershire | |
| Played | 175 | 175 |
| Won | 79 | 36 |
| Lost | 36 | 79 |
| Drawn/Tied | 60 | 60 |
| Win % | 45.1 | 20.6 |
