Benny Set For Opener Role At Derby
1 May 2012
Benny Howell looks set to open the batting with Chris Dent when Gloucestershire visit Derbyshire for an LV=County Championship clash, starting on Wednesday.
The former Hampshire player impressed when batting at number three on his debut against Kent at Canterbury, scoring 44 in the first innings, despite bowler friendly conditions.
Now he is set to step up, with wicketkeeper Richard Coughtrie dropping to a middle-order role, probably at around number seven.
Skipper Alex Gidman explained: "Richard has done an excellent job for us as a utility batsman, going in where required. But we feel that with Benny, Chris Dent and Kane Williamson we can have a strong top three and a long batting line up."
Gloucestershire will select from 13 just before the start. The chances are that a batsman will be omitted to allow either Paul Muchall or David Wade to strengthen the bowling attack.
David Payne is still sidelined by injury, but hopes to be back in action either for the CB40 match against the Netherlands at Bristol on Sunday or the Championship game at home to Yorkshire, which starts the following Wednesday. Dan Housego also remains under treatment for a shoulder problem.
Alex is looking for a good performance at Derby to erase the frustration of having all four days washed out in the opening Championship home match against Glamorgan.
He said: "Having done well on the road in our first three games, we desperately wanted the chance to play in front of our own fans.
"These days with all the drainage systems you don't expect to lose all four days of a Championship fixture and it shows how extreme the weather was.
"The only consolation is that it was pretty general across the country and no other team have really stolen a march on us."
Gloucestershire (from) C.Dent, B.Howell, K.Williamson, A.Gidman (capt), H.Marshall, I.Cockbain, W.Gidman, R. Coughtrie (wkt), E.Young, J.Fuller, I.Saxelby, D.Wade, P.Muchall.
