Michael Pays Tribute To 'Unbelievable' Will
5 September 2013
Gloucestershire captain Michael Klinger paid tribute to Will Gidman after the all-rounder’s man-of-the-match performance yielded an emphatic inside-the-distance win over Leicestershire in the LV=County Championship match at Bristol.
Gidman scored a career-best 143 with the bat and returned match figures of 10-43 to propel the home side to victory by an innings and 138 runs inside three days.
“It’s an unbelievable game from an individual and I’m delighted for Will. He prepares so well for every game and is really professional,” said Klinger after leading his side to a fourth win of the season.
Michael told this website: “Will is batting at seven but could play anywhere between four and six. He has been a bit frustrated at not having the opportunity to make too many big scores, because the top six have batted reasonably well.
“That may be frustrating for Will as an individual, but it is a good sign regarding where the team is going. If he can chip in like that when we get good starts and really dominate the opposition, he will be as effective as a top-order player for us.”
He added: “Will has bowled fantastically well all year. He has had a couple of niggles along the way, but he is a professional and knows how to get through it.
“Having a genuine all-rounder like Will helps the balance of the team no end.”
Having shot out Leicestershire for a meagre 117 in the first innings, Gloucestershire dismissed the visitors for 261 to complete an emphatic victory inside three days.
Michael labelled the performance the best in the Championship by the bowling pack this season.
“I also want to pay tribute to our other bowlers in this game, because they supported Will really well,” said the captain.
“He bowled fantastically well, but they helped him to get those wickets by building pressure at the other end.
“As a group, it was probably our best bowling effort of the season and I could not have asked any more of them.”
For more details of day three against Leicestershire click on Cricket and then Match Reports.
Note from web editor: Will Gidman's 100 runs and 10 wickets in the same match has only been accomplished 11 times previously for Gloucestershire, as follows:-
WG Grace (7) CL Townsend (1) CJ Barnett (1) and MJ Procter (2). The last time it was achieved was by Mike Procter in 1980 at Cheltenham College.
