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Time to match individual brilliance with team consistency - Dawson

1 April 2015

Richard Dawson says places are still up for grabs in the Gloucestershire first team as the side move into their final matches of pre-season.

With only the current game against Middlesex and a home fixture with Cardiff MCCU to go before the County Championship opener against Northants on April 12, the head coach says the players can still stake a claim for a place on the team sheet.

He said: “Places are still up for grabs.  One reason I have given everyone a go is that as a squad we need to be able to rely on each other not just on a few individuals.  There is still an opportunity for the lads to put their hands up and stake a claim for a position against Northants.”

Gloucestershire has enjoyed a promising pre-season campaign with one-day victories over Glamorgan and Worcestershire and draws against the same opposition in red ball cricket.  The side also recorded a win and a defeat against Somerset in T20.

Richard Dawson said: “We’ve had a lot of individual performances where people have done some very positive things but as a group we are still finding that consistency.

“There’s been some outstanding stuff:  Robbie Montgomery winning the game at Worcester with 90 odd not out, Hamish getting 180 not out in the T20 v Somerset and some of the bowling in the two-day match against Worcester.  But there are still areas we can improve on.”

After seven days of cricket on the road, Gloucestershire return to the Bristol County Ground on April 7 for a three-day game against Cardiff MCCU.  New overseas signing Peter Handscomb is expected to make his debut in that game and Dawson says the focus will be on continuing to develop a strong team ethos.

He said: “The message I’m trying to get across is that we win as a group and lose as a group but whatever we do we are reliant on everyone in the squad and that’s why everyone has played some cricket during pre-season.”

To listen to the full interview, including more on Robbie Montgomery, Hamish Marshall and the areas the team need to improve on click below.

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