JEREMY BLACKMORE – CRICKET v3.qxp_Layout 2 21/02/2022 15:59 Page 1
Zafar Gohar vs Durham at Bristol County Ground, 20 September 2021
High hopes for new head It's an exciting year for cricket in Bristol with a long-overdue return for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club after the pandemic put their promotion to Division One of the County Championship on hold. With a new head coach in place, the club has big hopes for silverware, says Jeremy Blackmore
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loucestershire make their long-awaited return to cricket’s topflight next month (April) with a new head coach and serious ambitions to challenge for silverware. It is the end of a long wait for the club who won promotion to Division One on the final day of the 2019 season before Covid caused widespread disruption to the sport and put Gloucestershire’s elevation on ice. County cricket has been played in a makeshift conference type system for the past two years. Now former South African international Dale Benkenstein has taken on the mantle as head coach from Richard Dawson who oversaw the ‘Glorious Glosters’’ promotion drive in 2019 and their one-day trophy win at Lord’s four years earlier. Benkenstein who arrived at Nevil Road in mid-February is excited to join a club with big aspirations. “Gloucestershire have shown it through last year's performances, they've got a squad that can compete, and if things go their way, they could be successful in all competitions. “It's obviously a very tough ask. But I like to always set out at the beginning of the season to compete in every competition. I like that attitude.” Benkenstein tasted success in English county cricket as a player when captaining a largely homegrown Durham side to their first ever Championship title in 2008. He sees a lot of similarities between the two clubs. “Gloucestershire reminds me a bit of my Durham days. It is 60 THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE
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a club with a lot of potential, but also one that plays with a lot of spirit. They produce quite a lot of homegrown players with a combination of experienced [outside signings].” Following Dawson’s six seasons in charge, assistant coach Ian Harvey stepped into his shoes in an interim role last season. Both men had distinguished playing careers at Nevil Road. But while Benkenstein will be keen to learn from his predecessors, he feels being an outsider could work in the club’s favour. “I really would like to come in with a fresh mind, a fresh pair of eyes. That could be a really good thing. There have been a lot of [former] players that are part of the club. There are real advantages to that. “But it would be quite nice to have my fresh ideas, fresh viewpoints on players. There may be something I see in someone maybe other people haven't seen, and I would like to give myself that chance, rather than have too many preconceived ideas.” The club has not been shy in blooding young players like Dominic Goodman (21) and the Price brothers Tom (22) and Oliver (20) in recent years. It has boosted competition for places among a squad that now stands at 26 strong. Benkenstein sees future success lying in how the club’s more experienced hands can pass on their knowledge to those youngsters. Former Gloucestershire wicketkeeper Steve Snell will have a key role to play as the club’s first ever Performance Director. Snell will be
