Gloucestershire County Cricket Club have secured the loan signing of James Hayes for the remainder of the County Championship season as they seek to reinforce a squad hampered by injuries, notably to all-rounder Ben Charlesworth.
Charlesworth, an Academy product who debuted as a teenager and became a consistent first-team presence, will miss the club’s final five Championship matches due to a hip injury sustained earlier this summer. The setback means he has played his final games wearing Gloucestershire colours before his move to Lancashire CCC ahead of the 2027 season. Over six seasons, Charlesworth contributed significantly with both bat and ball across all formats, playing a role in memorable successes such as the 2024 Vitality Blast victory.
To address the squad’s depleted ranks, fast bowler James Hayes has returned to Gloucestershire after joining temporarily for the latter half of the Vitality T20 Blast. Initially signed from Nottinghamshire, Hayes is expected to bolster the bowling attack during the remaining red-ball fixtures. Team Director of Cricket Jon Lewis previously described Hayes as a 2 talented young fast bowler and expressed enthusiasm for his contribution.
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Hayes is set to be available for Gloucestershire’s upcoming match against Division Two leaders Durham on Thursday. The club currently sits at the bottom of the division following their eighth defeat in nine matches last week.
In their recent encounter against Worcestershire at Cheltenham, Gloucestershire suffered a tight loss by eight wickets on the final day. After declaring their innings at 395-7, with James Bracey scoring a resilient 127 and Ollie Price adding 77 in a crucial partnership, Worcestershire responded with an impressive chase. Dan Lategan, making his twelfth Championship appearance, scored a commanding 144, while Jake Libby remained unbeaten on 107, guiding Worcestershire to victory with 4.5 overs to spare.
Gloucestershire head coach Mark Alleyne reflected on the match, noting their aggressive declaration aimed at setting a challenging target but acknowledging that early wickets and the unexpectedly steady pitch hindered their plans. Alleyne pointed to the psychological pressures affecting the team and praised the efforts of Bracey and Price amidst difficult circumstances.
Further strengthening their squad, Gloucestershire have also brought in Essex fast bowler Mitchell Killeen on loan for the final five matches of the Championship season. Killeen, a promising right-arm bowler, has taken 11 wickets in three first-class matches. He made an impactful County Championship debut for Durham in 2025, claiming a five-wicket haul, and has demonstrated economical bowling in one-day cricket, notably recording an economy rate of 4.66 in this season’s Metro Bank One Day Cup.
These loan acquisitions aim to provide Gloucestershire with added depth and experience as they navigate the challenges of the closing stages of the County Championship season.