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Preview: Late season championship chance for Howell against Glamorgan

18 September 2017

Gloucestershire have included all rounder Benny Howell in a squad of 12 for their last away game in Division 2 of the Specsavers County Championship against Glamorgan in Cardiff on Tuesday (10.30am).

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The 28 year old hasn't played in a four day game since the defeat by Sussex at Hove in August 2016 despite consistent performances in white ball cricket, but Cameron Bancroft's return to Australia, coupled with Gareth Roderick's broken finger, means Howell comes in
after making a century in a second XI game against Somerset last week.

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"We're not picking him as a bowling all rounder, we're picking him as a batting all rounder who can offer something with the ball if we need it" said head coach Richard Dawson.

"Obviously we've lost two batsmen in the top order so these last two games are a challenge and people know they'll probably be shifted around, but if you are in the first seven then you're there to make runs wherever you bat. The lads must adapt to the situation we're in and we've got to work hard to put runs on the board."

Squad:

Mustard (c), Dent, Bracey, Howell, Hankins, J.Taylor, Noema-Barnett, Smith, Shaw, M.Taylor, Norwell, Payne

David Payne is also fit for selection after injury, and Dawson confirmed it was possible that James Bracey might continue as wicket keeper, having stood in against Kent after Gareth Roderick sustained his injury.

"James has kept wicket in the second XI and he's vigilant with his training" Dawson added. "He'd done some catching in the mornings before play in the Kent game and the opportunity came for him. Phil Mustard could obviously do it as well so we do have options, although if he fields at mid off he can talk to the bowlers and manage them from there rather then behind the stumps."

The game at Cardiff follows hard on the heels of the draw against Kent, and Dawson said the players were, as a group, pleased that Cameron Bancroft was able to end his summer with the club by making only the second double hundred of his career.

"He would have liked to have scored more runs before last week but he's been good to have around" Dawson went on. "He's a good professional and a mature lad who thinks in depth about things and asks lots of questions, and to work for that score (206*) was a big effort, especially as conditions weren't easy on the first day."

"We have drawn a lot of games at Bristol this year but we've played some decent sides in Durham, Nottinghamshire and Kent. We backed up the win at Leicester by playing another four days of hard cricket. If it's a fresh wicket at Cardiff it can seam around a bit and if it's a used wicket it can turn. We've just got to be disciplined again in how we perform."

Coverage:
You can follow the match via the live scorecard available on the website, or via Twitter @GlosCricket

Did you know:-

• Gloucestershire are unbeaten in seven against Glamorgan, winning their last three against the Welsh side.
• Gloucestershire won their last away game (v Leicestershire) and are looking for back to back games on the road for the first time since May 2015.
• Glamorgan have won just one of their last nine home games (D1, L7), losing their last three on their own patch.
• Of the six bowlers to take 50+ wickets in either division this season Gloucestershire’s Liam Norwell has the best bowling average (17.1).

Tickets to watch England v West Indies at The Brightside Ground, Bristol on Sunday 24 September are still available. Click here to book

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