County Cricket News: Gloucestershire

GLOUCESTERSHIRE

Overseas player and first team XI captain Michael Klinger has gone back to Australia to play for the West End Redbacks in a 50-over competition. The 33-year-old will return to play for the county side this year hoping to continue where he left off.

Michael Klinger's stats for 2013:
1105 Championship runs
702 YB40 runs
366 Flt20 runs
163 High score (vs. Hampshire)
6 centuries (11 half centuries)

Klinger spoke about his time with Gloucestershire; "It's been a highly competitive six months of cricket. It makes me more excited about coming back next year. I've loved my time here. I came here not knowing what to expect from a full season but it was great to play some hard cricket."

After being their top run-scorer last year, Klinger is still looking to do better; "I want to try and perform well next year and back it up, because sometimes it's difficult when the opposition get to know your strengths and weaknesses. From a personal point of view, to get another good season is what I'm after. But obviously it's more important for the team to keep moving forward. We've lost our way at times but if we can correct that next year and maintain it in the four-day game then we are going to be very hard to beat."
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IN

Tom Smith has made a move from Middlesex after a short-term loan in June has become permanent in a three-year deal. The left-arm spinner spoke about his new contract: "I am really excited about joining Gloucestershire permanently. It has been a great three months on loan and to be staying here for the next three seasons is a fantastic challenge for me."

The 26-year-old said he "thoroughly enjoyed [his] loan time and to have the opportunity to join this young and exciting squad was an easy decision to make."

Gloucestershire director of cricket John Bracewell; "I am delighted Tom has agreed to sign a contract. We are pleased with the progress he has made since joining us and the all-round skills that he is starting to show. He controls the scoreboard when he bowls in all forms of the game and I rate him highly. His batting has been somewhat neglected in the past, but he has played a number of promising innings for us and will be useful in that respect too."

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23-year-old Will Tavare has been offered a one-year deal with Gloucestershire CCC. After his return from playing in Melbourne this winter the right-handed batsman, right-arm medium pace bowler will move up to the first XI hoping to amass as many runs as he did for the second team (nearly 1000).

The nephew of former Kent, Somerset and England batsman: Chris Tavare spoke about his upbringing with the sport; "I come from a cricketing family and it has always been my ambition to play cricket professionally so I am very excited at the opportunity Glou. are giving me,"

John Bracewell commented on Tavare's impressive season with the second XI; "Will has been our leading run-scorer in second XI cricket. He deserves the opportunity to move up and provide extra competition for our batting places."
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Ball on Willow.