\tGLOUCESTERSHIRE<\/p>\n
The Glosters sit second in the Central and West Group. Like Surrey, they have also won five of their eight matches.<\/p>\n
Previewed by Richard Latham, ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay<\/p>\n
Captain:\u00a0Jack Taylor<\/p>\n
Overseas players:\u00a0D\u2019Arcy Short (Australia, all), Liam Scott (Australia, five group matches), Cameron Bancroft (Australia, all)<\/p>\n
Finals Day appearances:\u00a0Four (2003, 2007, 2020, 2024)<\/p>\n
Titles:\u00a0One (2024)<\/p>\n
2025 finish:\u00a07th\u00a0in South Group<\/p>\n
2025\u00a0leading run-scorer:\u00a0D\u2019Arcy Short (515)<\/p>\n
2025\u00a0leading wicket-taker:\u00a0David Payne (17)<\/p>\n
Key winter moves:\u00a0News that D\u2019Arcy Short would return for the 2026 Blast came as a huge<\/p>\n
boost after the Australian\u2019s impact on the competition last season. After a slow start, Short scored five half-centuries, with a top score of 83 off just 48 balls against Middlesex at Bristol. His tally of 515 runs was 239 more than Gloucestershire\u2019s next highest scorer.<\/p>\n
The big question:\u00a0How will Gloucestershire\u2019s bowling attack fare following the loss of Josh Shaw, Ajeet Singh Dale and Zaman Akhter to rival counties and the retirement of left-arm spinner Tom Smith, now on the coaching staff? They will also be without overseas signing Liam Scott for the first six group games following his selection for Australia\u2019s ODI tours of Pakistan and Bangladesh.<\/p>\n
Wildcard watch:\u00a0Ben Charlesworth. The 25-year-old left-hander, who began the season by announcing his intention to leave Gloucestershire at the end of it, had a disappointing Blast campaign last year, registering eight scores below 20 in 13 innings. But he has the power and talent to mark his last T20 campaign at Bristol with a much better return.<\/p>\n
Final thought:\u00a0Momentum is a powerful force in Blast cricket and Gloucestershire\u2019s last campaign was a perfect illustration. As reigning champions, they made a disastrous start, losing their first five group matches. Four successive victories were then chalked up before hopes of qualifying from the group were dashed by four defeats in the last five games. A good start this season would build confidence and could make the team the force they were in 2024.<\/p>\n
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