Day 2: Gloucestershire 358 v Middlesex 296 - 4
A bit of reality was brought to Gloucestershire's young bowling attack today as it struggled to make inroads into Middlesex's top order. The choice to go into this game with only 3 front line bowlers has yielded predictable results and only a strong showing from the batsmen in the second innings can prevent this match from being viewed as an error of selection.
Middlesex will resume 62 runs behind Gloucestershire and will fancy their chances of forging a match winning first innings total. Gloucestershire's bowlers will need to learn their lessons from yesterday and strive to pitch the ball up more consistently. Captain Gidders will have the morning session with which to take early wickets but if by lunch no significant damage has been done then we will get the opportunity to see whether Norwell and Payne have the ability to adapt their games to one of containment.
It's hard to be too critically of any of the bowlers yesterday on what appears a pretty flat track. It does, however, emphasise what a curious team selection this was. To play only 3 bowlers when 2 of them are youngsters seems a little over confident to say the least.
Worryingly Chris Taylor was taken to hospital with a swollen knee and question marks remain over whether he will be able to bat in the second innings.
Gloucestershire would hate to be batting just after tea tonight with 4 sessions left in the game and a deficit of over 150.
A pair of long-suffering Gloucestershire County Cricket club fans attempt to put the world (and the Glos administration) to rights. Themes include: Is one England ODI a year a good model for financial success and ground redevelopments, whether a batting average of 35 in Division 2 of the County Championship is acceptable and why Glos continue to be rubbish.
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