9:02am Thursday 2nd July 2009
ALEX GIDMAN has never lost a semi-final in a domestic 50-over competition and he plans to use that experience to help lead Gloucestershire into the Friends Provident Trophy final.
Skipper Gidman played in the winning sides of 2003 and 2004 during the glorious period when Gloucestershire won seven one-day trophies in five years, but they will be attempting to reach a Lord’s final for the first time in five years when they take on Sussex in the semi-final clash at Hove this Sunday (11am).
Of the current squad, Steve Adshead, Jon Lewis, Craig Spearman, Chris Taylor and Gidman have tasted one-day success with Gloucestershire, while Director of cricket John Bracewell was the coach who turned the county into one-day specialists in his previous spell, and Gidman feels that experience could be crucial.
“I’ve never lost a semi-final but it hurts more than losing a final I’d imagine because you really want to get there and enjoy the day,” he said.
“We’ve got great experience with the coach and I’ve been fortunate to win a couple. There will be a lot of guys that are nervous, which is good because you need nerves, and there will be guys desperate to do well.
“Myself, Craig (Spearman), Jon (Lewis) and Chris (Taylor) will do our best to share our experience. James Franklin has played international cricket so he’s been there and done it and Hamish has as well, so I think there’s a good balance of guys who are experienced and know what it’s all about, and guys that are very excited.”
Despite a disappointing Twenty20 campaign, Gidman says “confidence is very, very high” and, after what feels like a long absence given Gloucestershire’s modern day one-day record, he is hopeful of a return to Lord’s.
He said: “It feels like it’s been a long time and it feels like a place that we’ve missed going to but obviously we’ve got a huge hurdle before we reach that goal.”
“We’ve played some really good cricket and we know what the rewards are if we win that - a day in the final at Lord’s - so I’m sure the guys will have that in the back of their minds.”
Gidman came through the final Twenty20 Cup group match against Glamorgan on Sunday after returning from a back injury and hopes to bowl against Sussex but is playing in the current County Championship match against Kent as a batsman only.
l County cricket round-up - page 54
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