New Royal London One-Day Cup Will Suit Us - Bracewell
17 March 2014
John Bracewell expects the 50-over format of the Royal London One-Day Cup to suit Gloucestershire this summer.
The Director of Cricket predicts that his team will be very competitive in the new competition for a number of reasons and is looking forward to the tactical challenge it will pose.
The Royal London One-Day Cup, which replaces the Yorkshire Bank 40, does not start until late July and Gloucestershire’s first fixture, at home to Northamptonshire, will be played at the Brewin Dolphin Cheltenham Cricket Festival.
It takes place on Sunday 27 July. Also in Gloucestershire’s group are Derbyshire, Essex, Hampshire, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Worcestershire and Yorkshire.
John said: “I am optimistic about our chances in the 50-over competition because I think it will suit our players.
“There will be more time to build an innings than in T20 or 40-over cricket. We don’t have many power hitters to keep clearing the ropes, but we do have batsmen capable of scoring quickly over a longer period.
“The use of a new white ball at each end will suit someone like Will Gidman, whose strength is moving the ball off the pitch. The more pronounced the seam stays on the balls, the more effective he should be.
“50-over cricket will also engage more people in our squad. Some guys who have been labeled four-day, rather than one-day players, will be suited by it.
“Will is one of those and there will be others. I believe we will do well in the Royal London One-Day Cup and that the players can approach it with confidence.”
