Michael Frustrated By Surrey Defeat
18 July 2014
Michael Klinger will challenge his Gloucestershire team to eliminate basic mistakes from their NatWest Blast T20 performances when top of the table Essex visit the Brewin Dolphin Cheltenham Festival on Sunday.
Speaking after the five-run defeat by Surrey at the College Ground, the skipper admitted to growing frustration over the team's efforts in the shortest format of the game.
The visitors scored 30 runs from the last two overs of their innings to post 157-8 in glorious sunshine, watched by a sell-out crowd.
In reply, Gloucestershire managed 152-7, Michael himself top scoring with 45, while Benny Howell and Jack Taylor entertained spectators with some big-hitting in a vain attempt to turn the game at the end.
Michael told this website: "It can be frustrating for a captain at times when certain players keep making the same mistakes. I am not going to point the finger by talking about individuals, but we have to look at our team make-up because it can't go on.
"The only thing we can do is come back Sunday, whether it is with the same side or bringing others in, and try to do better.
"Surrey are a very talented side and maybe stronger than us on paper. But the chance was there to beat them today and it should have been taken.
"I am talking about the basics of the game. We encourage our guys to play with freedom and that will mean errors from time to time. But you can't keep making the same ones.
"Whether it is backing-up in the field, nailing your bowling at the end or batting without too many dot balls that put pressure on other players, we have to improve.
"All of our squad who are fit will come into contention for the Essex game, but we also have to consider the Championship match that starts the next day.
"Sometimes you can't field your best team because you are saving players. That's how it is with the scheduling of T20 and four-day matches at the moment."
Squad to face Essex: M.Klinger (capt), C.Dent, A.Gidman, I.Cockbain, H.Marshall, B.Howell, A.Rouse (wkt), T.Smith, J.Taylor, D.Payne, G.McCarter, L.Norwell, W.Tavare.
For full details on the match against Surrey click on Cricket and then Match Reports.
