Western Daily Press (Saturday)
BRACEY IS EYEING A PLACE IN ENGLAND LINE-UP
JAMES Bracey says success with England Lions during the winter has fuelled his ambition to rise from Bristol club cricketer to Test match player.
The 23-year-old Gloucestershire wicketkeeper-batsman, recently named in the 55-man England training group to prepare for the return to international cricket, enjoyed an excellent tour Down Under. One innings in particular, scoring 65 in the four-day victory over Australia A in Melbourne, gave him a taste of what Ashes cricket would be like.
“We were all pumped up playing for the Lions at a ground like the MCG and the experience provided a huge incentive to go on and represent the full England side,” said Bracey. “My ultimate ambition is to play Test cricket and if it were in an Ashes series it would be a dream fulfilled.
“I think all the lads in the Lions squad will be looking to the 202122 series in Australia. We will all have to work tremendously hard to stand a chance of selection, but it is a fantastic target to have.”
While such talk might sound over-ambitious for a player who only made his county debut in List A and T20 cricket last summer, Bracey’s progress since making his Championship debut at the end of 2016 has been spectacular.
Having initially caught the eye through an ability to play long innings in red-ball cricket, his developing strokeplay and keeping served Gloucestershire well in all formats last season.
His cricketing education has been extended, not only through selection for the Lions, but also by attending a spin bowling camp in Mumbai before going to Australia.
“Eight players went to India at the end of November and I was the only one who had no experience of subcontinent pitches,” he said.
“To start with I struggled. Then I realised that, with the ball turning more, I needed to change the technique for playing spin I had employed in England.
“Now, having also played in Australia, I think I am better equipped to cope with spinners in any conditions.
“The three weeks in Mumbai were incredible. There is so much passion for cricket in India that hundreds of people were turning up to watch us in the nets, some of them offering to bowl at us.
“It was just before the end of the trip that the Lions squad was announced. I was optimistic of being picked in one of the groups, but was ecstatic at being selected for the 50-over and four-day games.”
In both Mumbai and Australia, Bracey worked with wicketkeeping coach Bruce French and saw his glovework take significant strides.
Only last week Gloucestershire coach Richard Dawson admitted he will face a selection dilemma behind the stumps when county cricket resumes, with Bracey and Gareth Roderick vying for the role.
Bracey said: “I am happy to play whatever role Gloucestershire feel most benefits the team. But I do feel my keeping improved during the winter. When the Lions squad arrived in Australia, I didn’t know I would be the regular keeper. It was only made clear after the first week’s training.
“Of course, it helped me having Richard Dawson as head coach on the tour. Not many combine toporder batting with keeping, but it is something I think I can do and it would certainly aid my international ambitions if I make a success of it in county cricket.”
The BBC will show highlights from England’s Test and one-day international fixtures this summer.
England will play a three-match behind-closed-doors Test series against the West Indies next month, with further games against Pakistan, Australia and Ireland scheduled for later in the summer, but awaiting confirmation.
The highlights – fronted by World Cup winner Isa Guha – will be on BBC2. It will be the first time Test cricket in England has been on the channel since 1998.
Michael Vaughan, Phil Tufnell and Sir Alastair Cook will provide analysis.