Gloucestershire toil after promising start

Day 1: Northants 361 - 8 v Gloucestershire

It could have been oh so different for Gloucestershire's young team today. At 125 for 5 shortly after lunch the boys really had the chance to turn the screws and put themselves ahead in the match. As it was, the sun came out, the pitch flattened out and Gloucestershire's young seam attack began to represent, well, a young seam attack.

No one is really to blame. Everyone toiled away manfully against a very strong Northants batting lineup. No one hemorrhaged runs too alarmingly, but learning how to keep things tight and take wickets through pressure will be a keen lesson if this team has serious intentions of promotion.

A special mention to 16 year old Craig Miles who made his debut today in place of Liam Norwell who has a muscle strain. The Jessop Tavern view were a little concerned to hear Glos cricket radio describe him as looking similar to Richard Dawson, but for a 16 year old he seemed to acquit himself well.

Unless Northants are polished off early tomorrow Gloucestershire's depleted batting faces an uphill struggle to save this game.