James Bracey

A LEADER WITH BAT AND GLOVES

James Bracey’s debut for Gloucestershire came in 2016 came against Sussex in the County Championship Division Two as a 19-year-old. A specialist batter in that fixture due to Phil Mustard’s presence behind the stumps, the left-hander is now a polished wicketkeeper-batter and a key player for the Shire.

A maiden red-ball century came the following year for Bracey he hit 156 away to Glamorgan, sharing a 240-run stand for the second wicket with former Gloucestershire teammate Benny Howell.

An average of 74 across the four first-class matches Bracey played in 2017 resulted in the then 19-year-old receiving the first of three Young Player of the Year Awards, the second and third coming in 2019 & 2020.

But it was in 2019 when Bracey cemented his place across all formats playing in all but two of Gloucestershire’s fixtures during the season. He led the Club run scoring charts in the 50-over competition with 333, which contributed to a season total 1,255 runs in what was a hugely successful first full season for the Gloucestershire Academy graduate.

The following years took Bracey to the fringe of international cricket. Call-ups to the England Lions programme and inclusion in enlarged Covid-era England squads were a prequel to a Test debut in the summer of 2021. Bracey kept wicket for England in two tests against New Zealand at Lord’s and Edgbaston before dropping out of the side for the returning Jos Buttler.

A product of Winterbourne CC in Bristol, Bracey didn’t miss a single fixture for Shire in 2022. Selected as vice-captain for the season, he scored 1,294 runs across all formats including a magnificent career-best 177 at the Seat Unique Stadium against Yorkshire.

47 catches and four stumpings also helped ensure Bracey’s selection as wicketkeeper in the PCA Men’s Team of the Year in 2022 for the first time in his career.

Individual Honours

Gloucestershire Young Player of the Year: 2017, 2019, 2020

PCA Team of the Year: 2022

Gloucestershire Career Stats

Batting & Fielding

Bowling

*Figures up to date as of 01/04/2023