County Championship Preview | Northamptonshire v Gloucestershire
22 May 2025
Gloucestershire are on their way to the Midlands as they play Northamptonshire this Bank Holiday weekend. Cameron Bancroft’s side go up the A43 with momentum from their first win of the season after beating Kent on Monday. Northants sit bottom of Division 2 but a win could change their fortunes.
This is Cameron Green’s final game for Gloucestershire this season. With two centuries to his name and a match-winning 67* on Monday, he is a threat to any bowling attack. But, Green is not alone in his good form, Bracey’s two centuries this season and Ajeet Singh Dale’s 9 wicket haul against Kent mean that Gloucestershire can be confident going to the County Ground.
In his first year in the East Midlands, former Australian coach Darren Lehmann has had mixed success. Northamptonshire lost their last game at home, when they were beaten by Glamorgan by 8 wickets - their third loss of the season. But the Midlands side did beat Lancashire earlier this month, with spinner Calvin Harrison taking 4-32 in the final innings.
TEAM NEWS
After their win on Monday, Gloucestershire make one change. Josh Shaw, rested, is replaced by Archie Bailey who recently took two wickets against Zimbabwe for the PCC Select XI.
Your Gloucestershire Men's squad to face Northamptonshire:
Cameron Bancroft (c), Graeme van Buuren, Zaman Akhter, Joe Phillips, James Bracey, Archie Bailey, Cameron Green, Matt Taylor, Ajeet Singh Dale, Tom Price, Ed Middleton, Ben Charlesworth, Ollie Price & Miles Hammond.
VIEW FROM THE CAMP
Ajeet Singh Dale had a fantastic outing last time out. His nine wickets against Kent were pivotal to our first win of the season, with Ajeet subsequently being called up to represent England Lions against India A.
Ajeet shared his thoughts ahead of the game on Friday:
"It's a great opportunity to carry the momentum from last week into this one, especially at a venue where we had success last year."
"We’ve got good memories and valuable experience to draw on. The lads are really excited and keen to finish this county block on a high."
OUR OPPONENTS
Northamptonshire are bottom of Division 2, following a loss at home to Glamorgan. Their top run scorer Saif Zaib has scored 306 runs this season, including a calm and methodical 116 against Lancashire earlier this season.
This is Darren Lehmann’s first season coaching in the County Championship. Previously, he had coached Australia’s Men's side to World Cup glory and Ashes victories but also coached two losing tours to England in 2013 and 2015. He has also had experience coaching in the IPL at the now-defunct Deccan Chargers and in the Big Bash with the Brisbane Heat.
LAST MEETING
Last time we faced Northamptonshire in the Midlands, Gloucestershire won by 256 runs, the Club’s third-largest margin of victory via runs. Notably, Miles Hammond hit 112 in the first innings and then Cameron Bancroft scored 130 in the second.
On Day 1, Northamptonshire elected to field first and Gloucestershire scored 409. Miles Hammond’s 112 was rapid, smashing seventeen fours and a single six from just 133 balls. The tail wagged with runs from Shaw and De Lange putting on a big partnership to get the Shire to the 409.
Those runs brought Gloucestershire plenty of positivity, that helped them rip through Northamptonshire, bowling them out for 171. De Lange’s 5/42 helped Gloucestershire go into bat with a huge lead of 238 runs. In their second innings Gloucestershire scored a whirlwind 319 from 71.4 overs. Cameron Bancroft led the charge scoring a masterful 130.
The home side mounted a determined 301 in their final innings but still fell 256 runs short. Wickets were shared among the Gloucestershire attack, with Shaw, Singh Dale, and De Lange each claiming multiple scalps to seal a resounding win.
HOW TO WATCH
Gloucestershire face Northamptonshire in the Rothesay County Championship at the County Ground, Northampton at 11am on Friday 23 May.
The match will be streamed live via the Glos Cricket Match Centre.
