Gloucestershire keep pacemen locked down
HEAD coach Richard Dawson admits Gloucestershire’s top priority this winter was to tie down their rising stars and fend off interest from the big guns.
Gloucestershire have already committed seven players to contract extensions, re-signed overseas batsman Cameron Bancroft and brought in former England wicketkeeper Phil Mustard on a permanent deal.
But arguably the biggest boon for the club was to lock down a homegrown bowling attack that improved so much in 2016.
Left-armer Matt Taylor’s breakthrough season featured 21 wickets in the T20 Blast, while Craig Miles (57), Liam Norwell (44) and David Payne (43) combined for nearly 150 first-class scalps.
Dawson said:“The main thing was to commit to re-signing those lads to longer contracts. Though they’re still young they have played a lot of cricket and a lot of work has gone into developing them.
“When people perform well there’ll be counties having a look – that’s sport, that’s just being realistic – but we wanted to keep them and we are delighted they will be staying here.
“We have also signed Phil Mustard on a two-year contract, and we have got Maxy (Michael Klinger) coming back in one-day cricket and then Cameron Bancroft in four-day cricket.
“Phil has been a captain of senior players at Durham and he will add to that leadership group in a young squad.”
The form of Taylor, 22, in particular has not gone unnoticed, as he was invited on to the England Pace Programme to work with the ECB’s coaches at home and abroad over the winter.
“There are a number of coaches who have put work into Matty, you’ve got to put some hours in, and it’s nice to get him on the programme and he’s deserved it,” added Dawson.
“In T20, especially, he can take the new ball and also bowl at the death which are special skills to have. It’s pleasing he’s received recognition.”
Dawson was considered to be one of the contenders for the head coaching job at his former county, Yorkshire, before Andrew Gale was promoted from within.
But he said: “I’m content here, there are a lot of promising young players that I’m excited to work with and grow.”