Preview: van Buuren added to squad for Taunton trip
20 July 2017
Head coach Richard Dawson has added Graeme van Buuren to the squad of 13 which travelled to Canterbury earlier this week for Friday's NatWest T20 Blast derby against Somerset at Taunton (5.30).
The 26 year old hasn't appeared so far in the competition, with Tom Smith - who has been playing with a broken finger - and Jack Taylor giving Gloucestershire their spin bowling options.
Squad:
Klinger (c), Mustard, Cockbain, Hankins, Roderick, van Buuren, Howell, J.Taylor, Perera, Noema-Barnett, Smith, Payne, M.Taylor, Liddle
Gloucestershire's narrow victory by eight runs over Kent took them onto six points in the South Group, and Dawson admitted the performance has set the bar high for the games to come.
"The odds of us defending 139 at half way were quite small, and the pleasing thing for me was we had a lot of lads contribute with their bowling, catching and ground fielding" he said. "We tried to create a presence during the powerplay as a fielding unit and although we only took one wicket we threw ourselves around and everyone responded."
Gloucestershire have won on their last two visits to Taunton in this competition, with skipper Michael Klinger making a century there last season, and even as an Australian he understands the rivalry and feeling the fixture generates.
"We love playing against Somerset as it's always a great atmosphere" Klinger said. "They've mixed and matched their team a little bit so we've had to make sure we plan well and while we are playing some good cricket we have to keep the momentum going and try not to allow teams the chance to overtake us."
Somerset - who play at home for the first time after four away games so far - have named a squad of 15 with fitness tests to be given to Corey Anderson and Johann Myburgh, and the busy schedule has meant Richard Dawson has devoted a lot of his time in between games looking at footage of Gloucestershire's opponents.
"I've watched all of Somerset's games and we've had a chat about what to expect" he added. "Injuries are part and parcel of the game. We play the eleven that is in front of us, whether that includes Anderson and Myburgh or not, and when you have van der Merwe coming in at number eight, they are a dangerous team from top to bottom."
"The pitches are usually decent, and with the dimensions of the ground it can be hard to defend a score, as we've found from the success we've had there (on both occasions in the last two seasons batting second). We're taking 14 players to give ourselves options as to how we shape up."
Coverage :
You can follow the match via the live scorecard available on the website, or via Twitter @GlosCricket
*Gloucestershire return to the Brightside Ground next week for two home fixtures against Glamorgan (Tues July 25, 6.30pm) and Hampshire (Fri July 28, 6.30pm). Tickets for both matches are still available, with a special pre-booked price of £12 applying for the Glamorgan fixture. Click here to book tickets
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