Tom Smith: Squad is in confident mood ahead of Glamorgan clash
20 June 2014
Tom Smith says he is looking forward to facing Glamorgan in the LV County Championship this weekend fresh from his career best score of 80 against Surrey last time out.
Coming in as nightwatchman late on Day Three the spinner faced 221 balls and hit 11 fours in a stubborn sixth wicket partnership of 177 with Ian Cockbain to help save the game.
And he says the spirited fight-back - which saw Cockbain bat for nearly nine hours to make 151 not out – has lifted the side ahead of the match against Glamorgan at the Bristol County Ground starting on June 21.
He said: “The Championship is hugely exciting for us at the moment and pulling off the draw against Surrey from the position we were in gives us great confidence.
“I also took a lot of personal confidence from the game. I always back myself to do a job as a batsman and it was nice to be able to go out and prove it and make an important contribution.”
To listen to Tom talking about his innings against Surrey click on the audio player below.
Gloucestershire drew with Glamorgan at the SWALEC Stadium in April when rain played a major part in preventing the visitors leaving Wales with a victory.
And Smith says his side will be looking to make up for the disappointment off that result in the return fixture.
He said: “Glamorgan is always a tough game but we should have beaten them in Cardiff earlier this season and probably would have done if it hadn’t been for the weather.
“We know we will have to work hard on what will be a very good batting deck again but hopefully we can get a win and start moving up the table.”
The squad enjoyed a few well-earned days off this week after a busy period that has seen them travel up and down the country and competing in both the Championship and the NatWest T20 Blast.
The Glamorgan match comes a day after they play Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl in the T20 but Smith says he has had no trouble switching between the formats.
He said: “I know it has been quite tough for a few of the guys but as a spinner it has been fairly straightforward. For the T20 games you bowl a slightly shorter length than in the Championship but apart from that not a lot changes.
“I feel in decent form at the moment and hopefully I can play my part in helping us put some wins together across both formats.”
The match against Glamorgan starts at 12.00 on Saturday June 21. For ticket information click here
Gloucestershire from: Klinger (capt), Tavare, Dent, Marshall, A Gidman, Cockbain, W Gidman, Herring (wkt), Smith, Norwell, M Taylor, Payne, Howell
