News

Northants Match Preview: Glos hope change of scene will end home hoodoo

8 July 2015

Gloucestershire will be hoping a change of scene will end their home hoodoo when they take on Northamptonshire in the first match of this year’s Brewin Dolphin Cheltenham Cricket Festival.

Richard Dawson’s men move up the M5 without a win at Bristol in the LV=County Championship.

But fast bowler James Fuller says it will feel like a fresh start at the College Ground.

He said: “It is a change of scene but it still feels very much like home. We always get good numbers there and they are really supportive. The crowd is so close to the pitch it creates an amazing atmosphere and the guys are really looking forward to playing there.”

Gloucestershire go into the match looking for a first win in six but the players will be buoyed by their recent NatWest T20 Blast victory over local rivals Somerset at Taunton.

James said: “It was also nice to get a win over Somerset after a few defeats against them. There is always an edge – especially at Taunton. The guys cop a lot of abuse from the supporters down there so it was nice to get one over them too. Hopefully we can use the win to get a bit of momentum going across all formats.”

The world’s longest-running cricket festival has seen its fair share of memorable action over the years and James will be hoping for a repeat of his best moment from 2013.

He said: “My best memory at Cheltenham was taking my first ever hat-trick in a four day game against Worcestershire in 2013. It was an amazing feeling in front of a big crowd and with my parents there as well.

“I got Matt Pardoe out off the last ball of my fifth over then bowled Moeen Ali with an inswinger on the first ball of my next over. Alexei Kervezee was the third wicket – caught behind by Gareth Roderick but no one except the players realised it was a hat-trick – including my parents!

It wasn’t until they announced it over the tannoy that everyone realised what had happened – they must have thought that I had just gone a bit over the top with my celebrations before that!”

Team News

With James Fuller recovered from a hand injury sustained at the Oval, the addition of Gareth Roderick is the only change to the Gloucestershire squad from their last County Championship match v Surrey.

Squad: Chris Dent, Will Tavaré, Michael Klinger, Ian Cockbain, Hamish Marshall, Geraint Jones, Gareth Roderick, Benny Howell, Jack Taylor, Tom Smith, James Fuller, Craig Miles, Liam Norwell.

Northamptonshire

Northants go into the match in fourth place in the Division Two table

Despite having 36 more points than Glos they have only won the same amount of games – two – having drawn more (six) than any other team in the country.

The two sides last met in the season opener at Northampton which ended in a draw.

Squad: Alex Wakeley (capt), Olly Stone, Graeme White, Richard Levi, Adam Rossington (wkt), Ben Duckett, Stephen Peters, Rob Keogh, Rory Kleinveldt, Steve Crook, Maurice Chambers, Josh Cobb

Key Man

Without the injured David Willey, Nortnahts will be looking to another young allrounder, Rob Keogh to make an impact at Cheltenham.

The 23-year-old right hander, who also bowls off spin has scored 666 runs at an average of 44, making him the fourth-highest run scorer in Division Two.

He has also hit the third most boundaries - 92- in the second tier of county cricket.

Opta Facts

• Northamptonshire have won four of their last five away games against Gloucestershire (lost one).
• Gloucestershire have won two of their last 25 games at Cheltenham (drawn eight, lost 15).
• Rory Kleinveldt (five) has taken more number 11 wickets this season than anyone else.
• Steven Crook (53.9%) has the lowest dot ball percentage of anyone facing at least 100 balls this season.
• Michael Klinger has scored 23.9% of Gloucestershire’s runs in games he has played this season, the highest percentage of anyone playing more than twice.

Head-to-Head

• Previous
• Next