Well balanced Essex post T20 threat - Klinger
20 July 2018
The current table may suggest otherwise, but Gloucestershire's captain Michael Klinger believes Essex come to the Cheltenham Festival today still with genuine hopes of making the knockout stages of the Vitality T20 Blast.
The sides meet at a sold-out College Ground (5.30pm) with the Eagles having won only one of their opening four matches. By contrast Gloucestershire have recovered from the defeat by Somerset to put together three successive wins, a sequence Klinger hopes to continue this evening.
"In terms of putting us in a strong position in the tournament this game and the one next week against Glamorgan are important" said Klinger, who has been training in Bristol this week with the club's other overseas player, Andrew Tye. "It's still relatively early in a 14 game competition, Essex are a good side and I would be surprised if they weren't in the top four in the group at the end or very close to it. Bopara and Ten Doeschate are good all rounders and although Adam Zampa isn't a huge turner of the ball the length he bowls is very consistent."
Essex's squad of 13 doesn't include Jamie Porter, who has been playing for the England Lions this week and is rested for the game.
The Gloucestershire team will only be named shortly before the start, with a late decision to be made on the fitness of Benny Howell.
"Benny had a bat in Bristol on Wednesday, and the plan is to test his bowling and running again today before play" Klinger added. "We'll give him all the time he needs and he'll only play if he's 100%, otherwise he'll wait another week and we'll choose the best eleven for the conditions."
"At Cheltenham some of the wickets have been very good but some have turned, and it's important that you don't go too hard at the ball and end up 100-5 and having to claw things back. We know we can catch up on run rate at the back end of the innings, we've done it in the past and I'll encourage the guys to play instinctively, just like they have been."
As many as six of the side beaten by Sussex in the Championship on Thursday could play again today, with Ian Cockbain, Jack Taylor and Tom Smith, along with Klinger and Tye, all likely to start and Klinger admitted it would test the energy levels of those involved in the four day fixture.
"After a Championship game it can be hard to go straight into another game" he concluded. "At least the boys batted on the final day so the bowlers got a day off."
Gates open for the match earlier than usual at 1.30pm. No tickets will be available on the day.
Coverage:
You can follow the match via the live scorecard available on the website, or via Twitter @Gloscricket.
Ball by ball commentary is also available on the BBC Sport website.
