Comfortably mid-table last season, Gloucestershire face an uncertain season after having had most of the family silver pilfered over the winter: Gemaal Hussain and Steve Kirby went down the M5 to Taunton, William Porterfield made the relatively short move to Warwickshire and Anthony Ireland headed for the bright lights of Lord’s.
Strengths
A relatively strong batting line-up featuring Hamish Marshall, captain Alex Gidman and overseas star Kane Williamson.
Weaknesses
The bowling cupboard looks bare with the loss of Kirby, Ireland and Hussain, so the ageless Jon Lewis will get through plenty of overs. Muttiah Muralitharan is coming – but unfortunately just for the Twenty 20.
Main man
We’ve been hugely impressed with Kane Williamson on the occasions we’ve seen him turn out for New Zealand, so providing that he can conquer the foibles of the pitch at Bristol, he should prove a shrewd acquisition.
Look out for…
The burglar alarm – surely the county has installed these at Bristol to prevent any further robberies of its key assets?
Prediction
8th – Thank God for Derbyshire
Where next?
County Championship Previews - Division 2: Derbyshire, Essex, Glamorgan
County Championship Previews - Division 1: Yorkshire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Sussex, Somerset, Nottinghamshire, Lancashire, Hampshire, Durham
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