Alex Gidman finally gets runs as Glos rack up a big total

Day 2, Close: Leicestershire 15-0 trail Gloucestershire 504-9 by 489 runs (PTS: Leics 1, Glos 5)

Prior to today, Alex Gidman had not scored a Championship century since September 2009. Given that all 15 of his Championship hundreds have come in the course of large team totals, he could be seen as a bit of a flat track bully. The Graeme Hick of Division 2 of the county championship, if you will. Only less good. Over 100 first class hundreds less good, actually.

Despite our cynicism, The Jessop Tavern View is pleased that Alex finally scored some runs today. We know the pitch is flat. We know that Leicestershire's attack is a bit knackered. Claude Henderson is 39, made his first class debut in 1990 (!) and has already bowled 169 overs in 4 day cricket coming into this match. Still, 168 is a good knock and he scored them at a reasonable pace. The better brother, Will Gidman, had a rare failure today, falling LBW to Henderson for just 16, proving that the brotherly form baton was firmly with Alex on this occasion.

The match result from here depends largely on our attack's ability to take 20 wickets. Lewis and Saxelby made little impression in the overs before the close, so it will be down to our four-pronged (if you believe that Williamson and Taylor count as bowlers) spin attack to do the damage. Worrying, when the 'best' of these is Vikram Banerjee, a man whose 96 first class victims thus far have come at an average of 45! Ed Young will be the man we'll be keeping an eye on tomorrow. By eye, we of course mean ear, as the excellent Glos Cricket Radio is the closest we'll get to the live action. Young is a very promising youngster, by all accounts, and hopefully the man for the job over the next two days.

Let's hope for a nice dry day tomorrow to turn the pitch into a raging bunsen. Cmon the 'shire!