Gloucestershire return to action today after a well earned week off following their encouraging start to the Championship season against Essex. They welcome to Bristol a Northants side who seem to have banished last year's demons and are fresh off giving Essex a good old spanking last week by an innings and 9 runs. As comprehensive as this result seems Northants first innings did include a slightly improbable-sounding 228 runs for their last two wickets.
Northants seem to possess a nicely rounded bowling attack. Trent Copeland might be one of a handful of quicks Australia have used over the last few years, but he has played test cricket without humiliating himself and so will pose a threat. He is complimented by the ageless South African grinder Andrew Hall and young up and coming left armer David Willey who took 8 for 110 in the match last week. Compare this attack to Gloucestershire's threadbare one and this is presumably where the game will be won or lost.
Gloucestershire have opted to pick 3 seamers and Jack Taylor as their attack after James Fuller broke his finger against Essex. It will be a real test for this unit to take 20 wickets agaianst an experienced Northants batting lineup.
Glos also choose to go with young Cameron Herring behind the stumps. We'd didn't hear any grumblings about his keeping in the opening match which we presume is a good thing. Interestingly both of Gloucestershire's other stumpers, Richard Coughtrie and Gareth Roderick, scored hundreds for the 2nd XI this week. Competition can only be good for what has been a problem position for Glos in recent seasons.
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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