Wicketkeeper-batter James Bracey signs new deal at Gloucestershire
18 July 2023
Gloucestershire wicketkeeper-batter James Bracey has signed a new two-year contract extension at the Club.
The new deal for 26-year-old Bracey will see him remain at the Seat Unique Stadium until at least the end of the 2025 season.
Born and bred in Bristol, Bracey made his First-class debut for the Club against Sussex at the Seat Unique Stadium in 2016. Seven years and more than 150 Gloucestershire appearances later, Bracey is now a regarded as a leader within Shire’s dressing room and is the Club’s red-ball vice-captain.
Speaking of his delight at signing a new deal at his hometown club, Bracey said: “I’m really excited to be staying with the Club for another two years, I’ve loved every minute of it and am so happy to have always been able to call Gloucestershire my home.
“I’m looking forward to being a part of this growing group of players in the years to come and rediscovering my own best form.”
A product of Winterbourne CC and the Gloucestershire Cricket academy, Bracey experienced a breakout year in 2017 when he found himself at the top of Gloucestershire’s batting averages thanks to a determined 156 against Glamorgan at Cardiff.
With 75 first-class appearances now under his belt, Bracey has amassed almost 4,000 runs at an average of 31.88. A career-best 177 came against Yorkshire in April 2022 at the Seat Unique Stadium, a stand-out performance in what was ultimately a defeat for Shire.
In white-ball cricket Bracey has made 51 appearances in T20 and 22 in List A matches for Glos, and boasts an impress average of 47.10 and almost 1000 runs in the 50-over format. A match-winning career best of 113* came against Essex in the Royal Lond Cup in 2019.
His credentials with the bat and behind the stumps earned Bracey a prestigious Test debut with England in 2021 and a handful of caps with the England Lions in recent years.
Dale Benkenstein, Head Coach at Gloucestershire, added: “It’s fantastic to have James committing his future to Gloucestershire, he is a great player to have in the team and also a great character and leader within the group.
“James is exactly the sort of player who will keep driving the Club forward and I’m very much looking forwards to working with him in the months and years to come.”
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