Canterbury Cricket Week Match Preview: Kent v Gloucestershire LV= CC

Kent v Gloucestershire

LV= County Championship Division Two

21 August – 24 August 2013, 11am start

The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence

Kent return to four-day cricket this week by welcoming Gloucestershire to The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence for the highly anticipated Canterbury Cricket Week.

Team news:

The hosts have already named their side for the clash, with Charlie Shreck, Calum Haggett, Daniel Bell-Drummond and Ben Harmison all returning to the team after missing out in recent Yorkshire Bank 40 matches.

Kent: Tredwell (c), Northeast, Key, Bell-Drummond, Nash, Harmison, Stevens, Jones (w), Haggett, Claydon, Shreck.

Players to watch:

All-rounder Calum Haggett has made a good impression during his first season with the county. The seam bowler has taken twenty first-class wickets and averages over 35 with the bat, making him a valued member of the side.

19 year-old fast bowler Craig Miles has made a great impression throughout his first full season with Gloucestershire. The Wiltshire-born paceman has taken 35 wickets in division two and looks to have a promising future ahead of him.

Pre-match chat:

James Tredwell has spoken about the Club's current form and his honour at captaining the side in his first Canterbury Cricket Week:

“We’ve played some good red-ball cricket, since getting the win over Gloucestershire down at Cheltenham. We did well against Hampshire and I was pleased with our showing at Worcestershire too – so we will look to carry that on.

“It would be great to get a win against Gloucestershire again because they’ve been going well. They’ve had some good results and impressed against Northants so it should be a good, keenly contested game. It’s also the start of Canterbury Cricket Week so it’s a special occasion for all concerned. Hopefully we can get a win in front of what is always a very good crowd.

“I’m really looking forward to my first Canterbury Week as Kent captain. It’s a massive thing for me and for the Club too. All of the marquees will be up. It’s not a lot different for us players out on the field, because you still want a positive result, but you definitely lift your performance with all the extra things going on off the pitch. It’s an exciting week and that is why it's so well attended.”

Season so far:

After a disappointing start to their LV= County Championship campaign, Kent have improved, and currently sit seventh in the second tier. Their solitary win came against this week’s opponents when they chased down an imposing 410 on the final day at Cheltenham. Kent’s last four-day outing ended in a draw, when rain ensured less than two innings could be completed against Worcestershire at New Road.

The visitors are chasing down one of the two promotion positions, but despite being in third place, they are 27 points behind Northamptonshire in second, so a win for Michael Klinger’s side is a must this week.

Previous meetings:

Kent’s win over the West Country side earlier in the season was a thrilling affair as Brendan Nash’s unbeaten 199 led Tredwell’s men to a remarkable two-wicket success. Last season when Gloucestershire visited the Garden of England for a four-day clash, rain again intervened as a draw proved to be the inevitable result. The visitors made 255 batting first and were pegged back by some fine bowling from Mark Davies and Matt Coles who took four wickets apiece. Kent struggled in reply as five wickets for Will Gidman helped skittle out the home side for just 150. After Gloucestershire declared on 257 for seven, Kent were set a final day target of 363 but poor weather meant they could only reach 94 for two when the captain’s shook hands on a tame draw.

In 88 meetings against Gloucestershire in the county, Kent have been victorious 39 times compared to the Bristol outfit’s 25 wins. Click here for the full Kent v Gloucestershire Match History.

Kent have prepared a sheet detailing the many activities and traditions taking place during this year's Canterbury Cricket Week – click here to download your copy to ensure you do not miss the key events. If you haven't yet secured your tickets, tickets will be available on the gate or they can be purchased online – click here to book online, gates open two hours before play on each day.