Tom Confident Of T20 Success
25 June 2013
Tom Smith believes Gloucestershire have every chance of success in this season’s Friends Life t20 competition and can’t wait to get started against Northants on Friday.
The left-arm spinner, on loan from Middlesex, looks certain to be in the side for the floodlit game at Northampton, having made his debut in the narrow defeat by Australia A at Bristol.
Tom told this website: “I feel we have a really good chance of at least reaching the quarter-finals, if not going even further. The team have been doing well in all forms of cricket this season and it is a really exciting time for the club.
“It’s a hugely exciting set-up here, with loads of youngsters, but also some quality experienced players and I can’t wait to get stuck in.”
The 25-year-old’s loan spell spans five weeks and he is delighted with the prospect of being a key member of Gloucestershire’s team, not only in the T20, but also some LV=County Championship fixtures.
“I have barely played any red ball cricket at first team level in my career so to come here and face Australia A, with the possibility of playing in a couple of four-day games too is a great opportunity for me,” he said.
“I had a good chat with Middlesex because I had been out of their one-day side since early May. I want to play as much first team cricket as possible and Twenty20 is the format I have appeared in most.
“They made it clear I would not be a guaranteed selection in their T20 team, so I told them I would like to pursue any offers from elsewhere. Angus Fraser took control of the situation and next thing I knew I was coming to Gloucestershire.
“I feel very fortunate. Had Ed Young not broken his wrist and Jack Taylor not had issues with his bowling action, I could be sat at Middlesex. The misfortune of others has given me a huge opportunity, which I am keen to seize.”
Smith sees his role in the T20 side as partly a containing one, but he will also be out to make an impact with some dismissals.
“I think you have to try to take wickets, otherwise that middle period of an innings allows opponents to prepare to smash the last four overs,” he said.
“It’s a blend and I certainly don’t want to be hit all around the park. I try to keep the runs down as well as getting people out, but I will be as aggressive as possible.”
And if Gloucestershire themselves lose too many wickets, Tom showed against Australia A that he is more than capable with the bat.
“My batting is coming along,” he said. “At Middlesex I have batted at eleven because they have so many all-rounders, but here I might get a chance a bit higher up.”
As for the prospect of him becoming a permanent Gloucestershire signing one day, Tom is open minded.
“It’s the last year of my contract at Middlesex,” he said. “You would have to ask John Bracewell whether there is any thought of me signing after the loan spell, but I am here to do as well as I can and if the chance did arise I would be stupid not to consider it.
“At the moment it is a case of performing as well as possible over five weeks and then we can take things from there.”
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