Mark Alleyne is not holding back when discussing Gloucestershire’s ambitions for the upcoming County Championship Division Two season. With their campaign kicking off against Middlesex at Lord’s on April 3, the 57-year-old head coach, now in his second season of his second stint at Nevil Road, is clear about their goal: promotion.
“I would never shy away from talking about promotion because that’s exactly what we’re here for,” Alleyne states. “We want to compete fiercely and win matches. Our ultimate aim is to be the best team in this division.”
Alleyne acknowledges the challenge ahead. “There are strong teams relegated into this division and others with ambitions to move up. It won’t be easy, but we believe we’re good enough to get it done.”
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The winter off-season presented challenges, including player departures and ongoing refurbishment work at Nevil Road, resulting in a scattered training schedule across Gloucester, Clifton, and Millfield School. However, Gloucestershire’s pre-season tour to South Africa proved invaluable. “Playing against counties like Hampshire and Northamptonshire gave us real match experience, not just net practice,” Alleyne remarked. “We came out of those matches with moral victories and performances to build on.”
Reflecting on last season’s sixth-place finish, Alleyne is optimistic about the team’s progress. “We showed we can challenge. We scored more than 8,000 runs—the highest in the division. Now, it’s about taking wickets at the right moments. We took over 200 wickets last year, but to gain promotion we believe around 220 wickets is required.”
He adds, “Winning in this division is tough; taking 20 wickets in a match is always challenging. Our bowling attack is unique—while not the fastest, our bowlers are aggressive and economical. To create more opportunities, we might need to score a bit quicker and adapt our game strategy.”
The Gloucestershire squad, stable over the past few years, has developed a strong batting lineup that has performed well across formats. “Our players are keen to push themselves further, both individually and as a unit,” Alleyne says. “Our focus remains on providing the bowlers with opportunities to turn matches in our favor and continue challenging for promotion.”