Middlesex v Gloucestershire - preview

Date released: 2 September 2008

Middlesex face Gloucestershire in an LV County Championship match at Lord's from 3-6 September, with up to six former MCC Young Cricketers taking part.

Mid-table Middlesex will be hoping to boost their flagging promotion hopes against the winless west-country side.

Former Young Cricketers

Gloucestershire bring four players with them who will be very familiar with Lord's.

Batsmen Will Porterfield and Hamish Marshall, all-rounder Alex Gidman and wicketkeeper Stephen Snell are all former MCC Young Cricketers (YCs).

Add in Middlesex 'keeper Ben Scott and the Crusaders' latest protege Dawid Malan (also both former YCs) and over a quarter of the players on display have 'graduated' to first-class cricket via Head Coach Clive Radley's tutelage.

Ones to watch

Gloucestershire

Former Test player, Richard Dawson is the newest man on Gloucestershire's books.

Dawson played seven Tests for England between 2001-3 and had recently, been coaching at Gordonstoun School whilst playing club cricket in Wimbledon - before the call came in from Gloucestershire.

The 6'4" spinner will add a new dimension to the visitors' attack and he's keen to reaquaint himself with Lord's:

"Middlesex are a good side with some good left handers, plus there's the slope. I've settled in well and I want to get back into some form now." he said.

The two sides met exactly a week ago, in Bristol, for a NatWest Pro40 match.

Steve Kirby - celebrating a wicket in the MCC v Champion County match Gloucestershire won by three wickets, led by a brilliant 102* from Hamish Marshall, backed by a helpful unbeaten 17 from Dawson.

Seamer, Steve Kirby's 4-27 did the damage to the Middlesex innings and Marshall's batting did the rest.

Another man returning to Lord's with Gloucestershire will be former MCC Young Cricketer, Will Porterfield.

Middlesex

Since their Twenty20 Cup success Middlesex have struggled for focus and for victories, recording only one win in all forms of the game since collecting the Twenty20 trophy.

In their Pro40 defeat at Bristol, after losing their top three cheaply, Eoin Morgan batted with resilience to record 82.

Spinners Shaun Udal and Murali Kartik bowled well taking 3-36 and 2-22 respectively in an, ultimately, losing cause.

Welcome return: Andrew Strauss Andrew Strauss' return from England duty has added to the batting line-up - he scored a smart 71 from 77 balls in Pro40 defeat to Hampshire at Lord's and the same score in the drawn LV County Championship against Leicestershire, also at 'HQ'.

With Gloucestershire rooted to the foot of Division Two Middlesex will be hopeful of a return to winning ways.

Tickets will be on sale on the gates. Come along and enjoy a great few days of cricket at Lord's.