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EDITIONS

  Thursday, 12 July, 2001, 09:54 GMT 10:54 UK
Perennial overachievers
Mark Alleyne
Mark Alleyne lifts the B&H Cup last year
BBC Sport Online's Robin Scott-Elliot runs the rule over Gloucestershire's successful squad.

In contrast to Surrey's star-studded side, a glance down the Gloucestershire team sheet does not at first see much of note.

There's the captain Mark Alleyne, in and around the England one-day side for a few years, the exceptional Australian Ian Harvey and a couple of worthy veterans in Kim Barnett and Jack Russell.

And the remainder? A collection of solid county pros playing at their level?

That seems to be the opinion of the national selectors as Alleyne is the only member of England's best one-day side to earn a higher call.

It is a lack of recognition that galls in Bristol.

Given the combination of their success - five trophies in two seasons - and England's failings, it is puzzling that more of Gloucestershire's players have not been given a chance.

Part of the reason may be that they do not - Harvey apart - have many individuals who stand out. They are very much a unit, moulded by their New Zealand coach John Bracewell.

Mark Alleyne
Alleyne lifted three trophies last season
A feature of their game is the number of players who will chip in with a 20 or 30, a wicket or a run out.

Harvey is the fulcrum. He is an outstanding one-day performer.

The Victorian is a canny one-day bowler, with all the variations that entails. He is a similarly adaptable batsman, capable of the big hits or the nudges and nurdles.

Alleyne and, increasingly, Jeremy Snape add all-round depth to the side.

Snape and Martyn Ball provide the spin options and while neither are prolific wicket-takers each is suitably mean.

Their seam attack is strong, but they will have to do without Jon Lewis, who has a back injury, as well as former England seamer Mike Smith

Main bowler

The left-armer has been a key figure in their one-day success, but has played only once this season thanks to a persistent groin injury.

In Smith's absence, Lewis had been the main strike bowler.

The 25-year-old toured West Indies with England 'A' in the winter and is surely close to a full call up.

But Gloucestershire will have to make do without the man who has taken 10 wickets on the way to Lord's and conceded only three an over. Of his 60 overs, 10 were maidens - a high proportion in the limited overs game.

Kim Barnett
Barnett remains an important figure
Lewis has been well supported by James Averis and Michael Cawdron, who will each have to shoulder an extra burden, and, of course, Harvey.

The batting is the weaker of Gloucestershire's disciplines - they are an outstanding fielding side - but then someone always seems to pop up when required.

Matt Windows has provided the backbone on their latest return to Lord's.

A compact, well organised right-hander, Windows is a former England 'A' player who has been a consistent contributor to Gloucestershire's success.

He scored their only century - against Northants - and a vital half-century in the semi final against Yorkshire.

Fragility

Barnett, whose stance becomes seemingly more eccentric with every season, continues to thrive.

The 40-year-old is in his third decade in the county game but remains an effective and prolific contributor. The occasional fragility of Gloucestershire's batting ensures Barnett remains an important figure.

Chris Taylor, a slender right-handed middle-order batsman, is one Gloucestershire player who may attract England interest in due course, although he has had a poor run in this competition with 81 runs in seven innings.

James Averis
Averis will have added responsibility
He made his first-class debut against Middlesex last year and made a hundred on debut - the first player to do so in the Championship at Lord's.

He played in the NatWest final last year, without batting, so already has good memories of Lord's in a career that is only in its second season.

Tim Hancock and Rob Cunliffe are able if inconsistent batsmen - neither has had an impressive tournament - while Dominic Hewson has recently enjoyed a run at the top of the order.

Cunliffe sums up the vagueries of the Gloucestershire order. He has made only 100 runs in six innings on the way to the final, but 75 of them came in one go as he played the vital innings in the victory over Warwickshire.


The final

Photo gallery

Surrey

Gloucestershire

Background

Semi-final reports

Official team websites
Links to more B and H Cup Final stories are at the foot of the page.


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Links to more B and H Cup Final stories

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