The streets around Bristol’s county ground have been ghostly quiet throughout the 2020 season – a far cry from the scenes that greeted Gloucestershire’s players 20 years ago.
“They had to shut the gates at least two or three times that season,” says Jack Russell. “We literally had supporters locked out of the ground because it was too full.”
Even in a normal season, that would seem extraordinary but when an entire campaign has been played out to empty grounds, that statement takes on an even more remarkable hue.
As the new millennium dawned back in 2000, it often appeared that Gloucestershire were playing cricket from another galaxy. Such was their dominance in the shortest format – with players who were, by and large, local products – that their treble-winning season was greeted with a resigned shrug of the shoulders from those counties who attempted to stop this West Country juggernaut in its tracks.
Just a year after England had crashed out of their own World Cup in the group stages, Russell even believes that Gloucestershire – a side containing the likes of charismatic all-rounder Mark Alleyne, opening pair Kim Barnett, Mike Smith, and now Sky Sports pundit Ian Harvey – could have taken on the world and given Australia a much better run for their money than most.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة September 06, 2020 من The Cricket Paper.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة September 06, 2020 من The Cricket Paper.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Kohli leads RCB to much-needed win
VIRAT KOHLI returned to top form with 72 not out to lead RCB to an eight-wicket victory over the Royals in Abu Dhabi.
TEWATIA HAS SPARKED MY LOVE AFFAIR WITH THE IPL
James Wallace admits he has been surprisingly taken in by the IPL so far – and, in particular, the performance of a new Royal renegade
Whitewash victory is just the T20 tonic for Keightley
A SERIES that few thought would come to fruition ended in triumph for England who completed a 5-0 whitewash of the West Indies in Derby.
TEN OUT OF TEN! RYAN IS BASKING IN MORE GLORY
Chris Stocks catches up with Ryan ten Doeschate, who has plotted Essex’s recent county domination every step of the way
Surrey have the Will to end hoodoo
WILL Jacks may be a hot batting prospect but he’s relished the added responsibility with the ball in Surrey’s charge to T20 Finals Day.
NOW IT'S OUR TIME TO HELP OTHERS
Chris Stocks catches up with England’s director of cricket and discusses the need for the ECB to help boards around the world
IT'S OFTEN DOWN TO A THROW OF THE DICE
Garfield Robinson explains just how big a part luck plays in determining success or failure in sport
FINDING TALENTS LIKE TOM IS A GAIN IN ITSELF
One of the unexpected highlights to emerge from English cricket’s Covid-attenuated season was the chance given to young players to strut their stuff. With many overseas players and Kolpaks affected by travel restrictions many counties looked instead to the young talent on their staffs with gratifying results.
Future looks bright for the Ohio Slinger
ALI Khan is earning his stars and stripes in the Indian Premier League, with the first American to play in the tournament breaking down barriers in every sense.
Spin trio put squeeze on after Glenn shows off skill with the bat
SARAH GLENN helped England spin it to win it after proving she can make an all-round contribution.
