Gloucestershire Gladiators v Essex Eagles – CB40 Match Preview

The Eagles return to limited-overs action on Sunday when they face Gloucestershire at Cheltenham College and the visitors are boosted by the inclusion of Ravi Bopara and Harbhajan Singh who are included in a 12-man squad.

Bopara, who made such a favourable impression for England in the one-day series with Australia, lines up for his county for only the second time in the CB40 this season although he has fond memories of his only previous match in the competition.

On that occasion he faced the Gladiators attack at Chelmsford and posted an unbeaten 120 as the host strode to a comprehensive 8 wickets victory.

That was the Eagles only success in five CB40 matches this season and with only seven group matches remaining, head coach Paul Grayson is aware that they need to repeat that winning formula if they are to reach the semi-final stages.

“We don’t feel that we are out of this competition even though we’ve only won that one match so far, he said. “We are capable of going on a run of four or five wins on the trot which is something we’ve done in the past. We haven’t started greatly in this competition but we still feel that we have something to play for.

“We’ve probably got to win both on Sunday and then next Wednesday against Middlesex to keep our interest going.

“We were going well in the CB40 last year until we came down to Cheltenham and got beaten in a match doesn’t hold great memories if I’m honest. But that is in the past and we are determined to get the two points on Sunday.

“Spin plays a huge part in one-day cricket and Harbhajan obviously has a huge amount of experience, so I’m sure he’ll be a terrific signing for us.”

Essex squad:

Mark Pettini (24),

Tom Westley (21),

Ravi Bopara (25)

Jaik Mickleburgh (32),

Greg Smith (83),

Ryan ten Doeschate (27),

James Foster, captain and wicket-keeper (7),

Graham Napier (17),

Harbhajan Singh (93),

David Masters (9),

Tim Phillips (23),

Reece Topley (6)

 

Live ball by ball coverage is available via our official media partner, BBC Essex. Coverage is available via 729/1530 mw. Follow us on Twitter for regular game updates.

The match is scheduled to commence at 1.45 p.m.