News

Squad Meet Press And Sample Sights

5 April 2013

Gloucestershire's players met the media at the club's annual photo call today before heading off to be pictured at some of Bristol's landmarks.

New captain Michael Klinger (foreground) was the chief subject of press attention as the squad battled a biting wind to be photographed in their new kit.

After conducting numerous interviews at the County Ground, Michael and the other players travelled by coach to the Avon Gorge Hotel overlooking the Suspension Bridge and then on to the SS Great Britain, which provided scenic backgrounds for some team pictures. Among the squad were the injured Ian Saxelby and Will Gidman, who had contrasting fortunes to report.

While Will believes he still has a chance of recovering from a thigh strain in time for the opening Championship game against Essex at Chelmsford next week, Ian is resigned to missing the first month of the campaign with a recurrence of a shoulder problem.

He told this website: "We are looking at four to six weeks before I can play. But as the fixtures fall, that could mean missing only one or two games.

"The shoulder has been giving me a few problems throughout the winter and it is important to get it completely right before I return to action."

Alex Gidman was still reflecting an falling one run short of a century in the two-day friendly against Worcestershire at Kidderminster.

"I got a good ball on 99," he said. "It would have been nice to score one more, but I'm delighted to have some pre-season runs under my belt."

Most of the media were ready to ask Alex if he expected to score big this season, having given up the responsibility of captaincy.

"It's the same question from everyone," he smiled. "I thought I would get less attention not being skipper, but I feel more in the spotlight than ever!"

For young wicketkeeper Cameron Herring the warm-up games have been memorable - and not just for the freezing weather.

"I have found myself playing against cricketers who were my idols as a boy," he said. "When we played Somerset it was amazing to see Marcus Trescothick in the opposition.

"I'm hoping to earn some first team appearances for Gloucestershire during the season so I have to get used to playing against these guys - and beating them!"

Players like Ed Young, who spent much of the winter in Adelaide, the unseasonal Spring temperatures have been particularly hard to handle.

"I've gone from playing in 40 degrees in Australia to what felt like minus seven at Taunton," he said. "The cold makes it hard for a spinner to grip the ball, but you have to get on with it and we're all looking forward to the new season."

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