Harvey looks forward to Kraigg’s debut

HEAD coach Ian Harvey is excited to see West Indies’ Kraigg Brathwaite in Gloucestershire colours.

The Windies skipper has signed for the next seven matches in the County Championship and he is set to make his debut in the game with Somerset, starting today.

Harvey said: “I’m really excited to see him, obviously captain of the West Indies, and someone who’s got a wealth of experience so that’s going to be brilliant for our boys in the changing room and I’m looking forward to what he can bring into the team.”

Brathwaite will miss the last two group matches played in July at Cheltenham College where hopefully fans can return.

Harvey said “That’s a big thing isn’t it really and for everyone.

“Not just for us, but for people to be out and being able to come and watch sport in general will be brilliant and of course, it’ll be brilliant for the players, they love it they want to entertain the crowd and hopefully we’ll see that sooner rather than later.”

Harvey was named the county’s interim head coach after Richard Dawson took up a position with the England set-up.

Harvey said: “It was all a bit hectic about a month ago when Richard Dawson decided to take the job with England.

“I was asked if I could fill in as interim head coach until the end of the season and sort of go on from there really. But over the last few weeks, it’s been a bit hectic.”

Dawson was in charge at Gloucestershire for six years after taking over but has taken the role of ECB’S Elite Performance Pathway coach.

“When Daws took over in 2015, there was a job going for assistant head coach.

“I’ve worked with Daws in the past and played alongside him as well, so I applied for it, I went through the whole process and I was lucky enough to get the role.

“Hopefully all the players will get a chance as it is a long season.”