JAMES Bracey is set to make his Gloucestershire debut in the final Specsavers County Championship match of the season against Sussex at Bristol, starting today (Tuesday).

The 19-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman has been impressing in the second XI and has been named in the squad for the first time as a specialist batsman.

Bristol-born Bracey, a product of Winterbourne Cricket Club, already has one first class appearance under his belt for Loughborough MCCU against Australian Universities in May.

He opened the batting in that game and scored 150 off 191 balls, with 17 fours and 2 sixes.

Gloucestershire head coach Richard Dawson said: “James has scored runs in our last couple of second XI games against Lancashire and Warwickshire so he deserves his chance.

“He almost made his debut at Cheltenham when Gareth Roderick was injured, but we decided that Chris Dent could keep wicket.

“James has come through our age-group sides and Academy. It is always nice to give an opportunity to a local product.”

Bracey replaces Will Tavare in a Gloucestershire batting line-up including another 19-year-old in George Hankins, fresh from making his maiden first class century in the last Championship game against Northamptonshire.

The Sussex match will see Hamish Marshall make his farewell appearance, requiring 45 runs to mark his final season at Gloucestershire with 1,000 in first class cricket.

Seamers Liam Norwell and David Payne are also chasing personal landmarks, needing six wickets and seven respectively to reach 50 first class victims this summer.

Dawson revealed that talks have been opened with Phil Mustard about keeping the Durham loanee at Gloucestershire next season.

Negotiations are also in process with an overseas batsman for red ball cricket in 2017, with Michael Klinger only playing in the one-day competitions.

Dawson said: “With our busy schedule on the road recently there has not been a lot of time for looking ahead to next season.

“However, we are in talks with Phil Mustard and hope to be in a position to clarify the overseas signing by the end of the week.”

Gloucestershire can still finish as high as third in the Championship Second Division and Dawson is determined to end the season on a high note.

He said: “I would like to see a strong batting performance from our top order and a game in which a lot of players make meaningful contributions.”

Gloucestershire (from) G.Roderick (capt), C.Dent, H.Marshall, J.Bracey, G.Hankins, P.Mustard (wkt), J.Taylor, C.Miles, D.Payne, L.Norwell, M.Taylor, J.Shaw.