Suprisingly good start for GCCC!

Well, the ball may have been swinging early on but to bowl Derbyshire out for 120-odd is still a very creditable performance, subsequently built on by fifties from Marcus North and Chris Taylor. It will be up to Steve Adshead, Mark Hardinges and the (long) tail to try and really drive home the advantage today and build a big first innings lead. I presume Anthony Ireland was sent in as a nightwatchman to protect Hardinges?! HOW bizarre!?!

In particular, it was great to see Steve Kirby - out cold for 30 seconds in the MCC game - bounce back with 4 wickets. Hopefully that blow to the bonce just made him mad (madder...?) and he will now be steaming in this season and taking wickets alongside Jon Lewis.

A mention too for the change bowlers, with 3 wickets for young Ireland and 2 for Hardinges. As it looks like GCCC may entrust any spinning duties to the part timers during the early part of the season, both may get a chance to prove they are worthy of the back up seamer slot(s), a position Gloucestershire have struggled to fill for many seasons. If fit, Kirby and Lewis should be a good opening attack but they will need far better support this season if GCCC are to win many 4 day games. Fortunately Jon Lewis seems to get the point and fair play to him for not pulling his punches.

HOORAY!

Great news for Glos fans this morning - the ECB have seen sense and agreed to allow Hamish Marshall's registration, which will improve the top order enormously. It still looks like being a tough season ahead, but at least the antipodean trio of The Spear, North and Mish should make some runs!

Puts a slightly different and more positive light on my GCCC season preview anyway!

Here we go then...

Ummmm..........