ESS vs GLO Match Preview
One of the key members of the batting order during the 2022 season for Essex was Michael Pepper. He caught the eye of one and all with his batting last season. He ended up being the top scorer for Essex in 2022. He will again need to contribute heavily to the Essex cause together with Robin Das and Nick Brown who are also expected to contribute a lot of runs this year. Similar to their bowling attacks, in other formats of the game Essex also has a pretty settled bowling attack. The presence of Daniel Sams adds a lot of variety to the team.
Sams will be joined by the spinner Simon Harmer and seamer Sam Cook. Another crucial bowler for Essex will be Matt Critchley who picked up 15 scalps last year. He will be looking to chip in with more dismissals during this campaign. Matt Critchley is a skillful leg-break bowler for Essex. He picked up his 15 wickets from 10 games with an economy rate of 7.67 and a strike rate of 13.8. Essex ended up losing their quarterfinal clash last year. However, before that match, they had won 4 games on the trot in the league stages of the competition.
In their win over Middlesex, the Gloucestershire batter Miles Hammond was the top scorer against Middlesex with 59 runs from 42 balls. This inning was studded with 4 fours and 3 sixes. The wicket-keeper batter Grant Roelofsen was responsible for scoring the highest number of runs in the Gloucestershire campaign during their victory over Middlesex. Despite achieving a win and putting up the points on the board for the first game of the season, the Gloucestershire bowling attack managed to pick six wickets only on Monday.
Oliver Price picked up 3 wickets for 21 runs. Marchant de Lange and Tom Smith both picked up a wicket apiece. Another important bowler that went wicketless in the game was David Payne however, he was pretty economical in this outing. Payne is a left-arm paceman who has collected as many as 168 wickets from 134 games with a strike rate of 16. We have seen Gloucestershire come close to victory in their last couple of matches with a win with 2 wickets and a loss with 2 runs. This victory on Monday will provide a huge boost to their morale.
Weather Report
The weather during this game is expected to be cloudy, especially during the evening. However, there is no serious threat of showers coming down. The temperatures during the match are likely to be on the lower side between 7 and 12 degrees.
Pitch Report
The pitch is a good one for the batsmen. As many as 50 T20 matches have been played on this ground and the team batting first has succeeded in winning 24 of them while the team batting second has won 25. The average score while batting first is 176 runs at this venue. The highest total scored on this venue in T20 domestic matches is 254 for the loss of 5 wickets.
Notable stats
Last 4 out of 5 games between these two sides have ended with no result.
The last 4 out of 5 games between Essex and Gloucestershire have ended in no result as rain played spoilsport. The only other game was won by Essex in 2019.
Michael Pepper had a terrific strike rate/average in recent matches.
In his last 10 appearances for Essex, Michael Pepper has scored 318 runs with an average of 35.33 and a strike rate of 171.89.
Team News
It looks as if the entire side will be available for selection in this game, as there are no reported injuries thus far.
ESS vs GLO Probable 11
ESS Playing 11
- Adam Rossington (Wk)
- Khushi
- Michael Pepper
- Matt Critchley
- Paul Walter
- Tom Westley
- Daniel Sams
- Simon Harmer (C)
- Aron Nijjar
- Sam Cook
- Ben Allison
GLO Playing 11
- Chris Dent
- Grant Roelofsen (Wk)
- Miles Hammond
- Graeme van Buuren
- Jack Taylor (C)
- Ben Charlesworth
- Oliver Price
- Marchant de Lange
- Tom Smith
- David Payne
- MD Taylor
Dream11 Prediction
If you look at the two sides man-to-man, you will find Essex to be a much stronger team than compared to Gloucestershire. They will hold an edge in this game as they are playing at home. We expect the team of Essex to win this encounter. It is predicted that Essex will win this encounter. However, some of the key members of the squad will have to contribute to the cause. Paul Walter remains to be the key player for the team of Essex. Last season he scored 404 runs in the competition with an average of 45 and a strike rate of 153. He had succeeded in hitting 3 fifties and is capable of playing a huge knock for propelling Essex over the line.
Top Picks
Daniel Sams: This imported overseas player has done a great job with the ball for Essex. He has picked up 12 scalps from 8 matches with a strike rate of 15.00.
David Payne: Although Payne was not among wickets in the last match, he has 7 wickets from his last 6 games with an economy rate of 6.83 and strike rate of 19.42.
Michael Pepper: Michael Pepper has score 318 runs from his last 10 matches with an average of 35.33 and a solid strike rate of 171.89.
Tom Smith: One of the leading bowlers for Gloucestershire is Tom Smith who has 11 wickets from 9 games with a strike rate of 16.45.
ESS vs GLO Dream11 Team 1
Keeper: M Pepper, G Roelofsen
Batters: H Hammond, C Dent, D Lawrence, B Charlesworth
All-rounders: G van Buuren, M Critchley, D Sams (C)
Bowlers: D Payne (VC), S Cook
