GLOUCESTERSHIRE’S Phil Mustard believes the county have one of the best seam attacks in Britain and that other teams are looking enviously at the talent they are producing.

The likes of Liam Norwell, Benny Howell and Matt Taylor have been causing stirs in recent seasons, and 34-year-old Mustard has been suitably impressed since joining the county after a loan spell last summer.

Wicketkeeper Mustard said: “We are still learning how to bowl properly but I think the potential of the young seam attack we have got is massive and I am sure other counties around the country would love to have the young seamers we have.

“We have got a few left armers and a couple of right armers. We have a variety of different skills and we just need to put that together as a unit rather than individuals.

“That will be the biggest challenge this season, working as partners rather than individuals.”

Mustard is hot stuff behind the stumps but he has also been pretty keen with the bat so far this season.

He top scored with ninety when opening during the Royal London One Day Cup defeat to Essex at Chelmsford and struck 72 in the four-day game against Leicestershire at the start of the season.

But he thinks it is important that, since the loss of Gloucestershire legend Hamish Marshall, who returned to his native New Zealand six months ago, and the restriction of Aussie star Michael Klinger to play just one-dayers rather than the County Championship, senior team members have to guide the talented young guns in the county’s squad.

The Geordie wicketkeeper said: “I think were Gloucestershire are at the minute is where Durham were about eight, nine or ten years ago.

“Every club needs to bring in experience and if you can bring in two or three experienced characters who can guide the youngsters through difficult situations, then I think it is a great investment for any club.

“There are not that many out there anymore. I’m 34 so I have been around quite a bit and hopefully I can guide the youngsters to match-winning positions.

“With our batters, Chris Dent has been a solid performer for Gloucestershire for a number of years. He understands his game.

“We have Cameron Bancroft coming in who has done really well in Australia and so that is a very good signing.

You have myself coming in about six-ish in the red ball (County Championships) stuff but a young kid, George Hankins, had a go last year and got a very good hundred at Northants so I think we have got the basis of a very strong side.”

Mustard was brought to Bristol mid-season in 2016 when the county suffered a wicketkeeping injury crisis but he is pleased to be part of the team as a full fledged member and not a loanee now.

“Things didn’t go to plan when I was up north but as soon as Richard Dawson (head coach) rang me and said ‘would you be keen to come down’ – because I played against Daws a few times and I know Ian Harvey (Glos assistant coach) – and they gave me the opportunity to play all forms of the game.

“I could not turn it down because I love playing cricket and that is what I am good at. It didn’t happen up north for whatever reasons and it was a perfect re-start to have a loan spell.”