Gloucestershire head coach Mark Alleyne reflected on the season finale, acknowledging both the highs and lows experienced by his team despite facing defeat. The Glo’sters were beaten by eight wickets by Kent at Canterbury, as the hosts secured promotion to Division One, following champions Durham.
Alleyne expressed satisfaction that the concluding match was meaningful, stating: “There would have been nothing worse than it being a dead rubber, so the fact that Kent were pushing for promotion offered a level of stimulus good for us.”
He emphasised the importance of playing under pressure, saying: “We know to win games you’ve got to be prepared to play and perform under a bit more pressure, so it’s exactly what we wanted and needed.”
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Reflecting on the nature of the game, Alleyne commented: “It was also typical (of the season), I think, with some good moments among some not so good ones. The game of cricket, particularly over four days, it’s the game at its best, it really is, in my opinion.”
He acknowledged the difficulties faced throughout the match: “This game is littered with mistakes. It’s really challenging, as you can see, technically and physically and mentally.”
Ultimately, Gloucestershire finished the season at the bottom of the Division Two table, accumulating 97 points, 17 points adrift of second-from-bottom Lancashire, who secured a draw against Durham in their final summer fixture.