Gloucestershire head coach Mark Alleyne is optimistic about the promising prospects for the county’s young players this season. With the opening Championship game scheduled for April 3, Alleyne is eager to see rising stars like top-order batters Joe Phillips, Kamran Dhariwal, and Tommy Boorman, alongside promising seamers Luke Charlesworth and Aman Rao, take centre stage. He also points to all-rounder potential in Daz Ahmed as a key asset for the team’s future.
“Every county typically rotates about 25 players, but we currently have around 17 or 18 – so the younger rookies have a genuine opportunity to step up,” Alleyne said.
Both Charlesworth and Rao are in the final stages of recovery from lower back stress sustained late last season and are expected to be back for selection by the end of April. Ahmed, who made his debut at Lord’s in the final game last season, could play his first two Championship matches this season at the iconic venue—a rare and unique achievement.
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“He needs the ambition to become a true all-rounder, likely batting around number seven or eight while contributing valuable overs with the ball,” Alleyne explained. “This role could be crucial, and I’m eager to watch his progress throughout the season.”
On the batting front, Cornish opener Joe Phillips has shown encouraging form, scoring 533 runs at an average of 44.41 last season, including a century and three fifties in seven Championship matches. Tommy Boorman, a Dumbleton Cricket Club product, impressed in the T20 Blast last summer with key innings, while rookie Kamran Dhariwal has already demonstrated exciting potential during pre-season games.
“I’ve been drafting team sheets and can comfortably include these young players without significantly weakening the side, which is thrilling,” said Alleyne. “Boorman performed admirably in a lower-order role last year but is solid as a top-order batter. Dhariwal batted at number three in pre-season at Southampton and showed great promise. Phillips ended last season strongly and is raring to go.”
At the other end of the experience spectrum, Alleyne is considering a four-day playing role for Jack Taylor, the county’s T20 captain, who appeared in the last three red-ball games last season.
“Those three batters, supported by a reinvigorated Jack Taylor, will be a threat across all formats and add valuable depth to our batting line-up,” Alleyne said. “Taylor is close to selection, but the challenge lies in balancing opportunities between young talent and established players. There’s a pivotal opening at number eight, which remains up for grabs.”
Recognising the importance of both bowling and batting in securing victories, Alleyne emphasized the delicate balance needed: “We know we must take 20 wickets, but runs on the board are equally vital. It’s a constant challenge to balance having sufficient bowling options alongside strong batting to put our bowlers in a winning position.”