We Will Try To Get A Home Tie For The Fans
20 August 2014
Michael Klinger returns to Gloucestershire’s squad against Derbyshire at Derby tomorrow, assuring supporters that the players will be doing all they can to earn a home quarter-final in the Royal London One-Day Cup.
And Alex Gidman, who stood in for Michael as captain for the excellent LV=County Championship victory over Worcestershire at New Road, insists: “We’ll be giving it a real go.”
Both know that to claim a tie at Bristol in the last eight Gloucestershire must finish in the top two of Group A.
And that means beating Derbyshire in their final group game, while hoping that either Yorkshire or Essex, currently level with Gloucestershire on ten points, slip up.
Yorkshire, who have easily the best net run rate, travel to Southampton to face Hampshire, while second placed Essex visit Northamptonshire. The top three are already guaranteed a place in the knock-out stage.
Michael Klinger, back in the squad after missing the Worcestershire match with a neck problem, said: “It's great to be in the quarter-finals and we will be doing all we can to secure a home tie because that would mean a big day for the club and the supporters.
“There haven’t been enough of those in recent years and it would be fantastic to play on our own ground in front of a large crowd.”
Alex Gidman echoed those comments. “While Derbyshire have to win to stand a chance of reaching the quarter-finals, we can go there with the pressure off and give it a real go,” he said.
“Beating Worcestershire inside three days has given us an extra day to prepare and we know how much the supporters would relish a big cup game at Bristol.”
Will Gidman also returns to Gloucestershire’s squad after missing the Worcestershire match with some niggling injury worries and is determined to press home the challenge for a trophy before leaving to join Nottinghamshire.
Derbyshire are one point behind fourth placed Leicestershire in Group A, so they have to win tomorrow to stand any chance of reaching the quarter-finals.
Gloucestershire (from) M.Klinger (capt), H.Marshall, C.Dent, W.Tavare, A Gidman, I.Cockbain, B.Howell. G.Roderick (wkt), W.Gidman, J.Taylor, T.Smith, D.Payne, C.Miles.
