Gloucestershire County Cricket Club

Beau Webster: Gloucestershire sign Australian all-rounder..

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Beau Webster starred with bat and ball for Essex in the One Day Cup last season

Gloucestershire have signed Australian all-rounder Beau Webster as an overseas player for the 2024 season.

A right-handed batter who bowls both right-arm medium pace and off-spin, Webster is eligible for the T20 Blast.

The 30-year-old will also be available for Gloucestershire's County Championship fixtures against Yorkshire and Glamorgan in June.

Webster, from Hobart, Tasmania, played eight matches for Essex in the One-Day Cup last season.

He was among the top 10 best-performing bowlers in the competition with 14 wickets at an economy rate of 5.47. With the bat, he scored 280 runs at an average of 37.14.

"I am really excited and very grateful for the opportunity to join Gloucestershire for the 2024 Vitality Blast campaign," Webster said.

"I'm looking forward to not only developing my game further in the UK but also to playing a part in helping the team win matches during my time here. I can't wait to meet my teammates and get started."

Webster started his career in 2014 at Tasmania, where he stills plays.

This season he has scored 554 runs at an average of 61.55 in the Sheffield Shield, second only to Cameron Bancroft in the run-scoring charts. The 6ft 6in all-rounder also has 13 wickets from seven appearances in Australia's first-class competition.

In the Marsh Cup 50-over competition, Webster has 247 runs from five matches at an average of 49.40 and also five wickets to his name.

Alongside his exploits for Tasmania, Webster also impressed in the recent Big Bash League with Melbourne Stars, scoring 262 runs at an average of 43.66.

Gloucestershire head coach Mark Alleyne said: "Beau is an incredibly well-rounded player who is experienced across all formats and offers a great option with both the bat and the ball.

"Beau is a tall, powerful player who can have a terrific impact on a game, and I'm really excited to have Beau join us for the Vitality Blast and to see him help win cricket matches for Gloucestershire."

Mark Alleyne: Gloucestershire appoint former all-rounder as head coach for second spell..

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Mark Alleyne's most recent spell at Gloucestershire was as assistant coach in 2021

Club legend Mark Alleyne has returned to Gloucestershire as head coach on a three-year-deal.

The 55-year-old featured in nearly 800 matches for the club during a 19-year playing career and previously coached Shire from 2005 to 2007.

Alleyne was Glamorgan's white-ball coach last season and also coached the England Twenty20 side on their 2022 tour of the West Indies.

"I'm feeling truly blessed to be given the opportunity," he said.

Alleyne is Gloucestershire's most decorated player with nine trophies and a County Championship promotion to his name and he also won 10 one-day international caps for England.

"Gloucestershire is a county I have many happy memories of from my playing days," Alleyne added.

"I have gained lots of experience, and I'm hoping the skills I've picked up along the way will allow me to have a positive impact on the team.

"I know a lot of the players already. There is a really exciting blend of youth and experience at Gloucestershire and that's why when the opportunity came up, I didn't give it a second thought."

The all-rounder scored 14,214 runs and took 407 wickets across 314 first-class matches for Gloucestershire as well as hitting 7,825 runs and claiming 393 wickets in 413 List A [limited-overs] appearances.

Both remain club records in List-A cricket and there is even a mural of Alleyne at Gloucestershire's Seat Unique Stadium.

"It is absolutely fantastic to welcome Mark back to the club," said Shire chief executive officer Will Brown.

"He has a long and glittering history of winning trophies here at Gloucestershire and is just as hungry for success now as a coach as he was during his playing days."

Captain Graeme van Buuren added: "Mark's knowledge of the game is amazing and he's achieved great things here as a player, so all of us are really excited to begin working with him.

"One thing Mark knows how to do is win and I'm sure the lessons he has learned over the years will be invaluable to us."

Gloucestershire explore move from County Ground to new site on edge of Bristol..

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Gloucestershire have been based at the site on Nevil Road, Bristol, since 1889

Gloucestershire are exploring options to relocate from their historic Bristol County Ground to a new site on the edge of the city.

The club have played at the ground in Ashley Down, Bristol, for more than a century with the first match held on Nevil Road in 1889.

Gloucestershire said the move would "ensure the competitiveness and long-term sustainability" of the club.

The preferred site is in South Gloucestershire, close to the M4.

"This is a significant turning point for cricket in Gloucestershire and Bristol as we look to secure the club's long-term future in an ever-changing sporting world," club chairman David Jones said.

"As well as delivering for our members the modern and low-carbon facilities they deserve in order to showcase an ever-wider range of world class events here in the South West, we are keen to continue our active role in the community to widen participation and inspire the next generation of sports women and men."

Gloucestershire have cited the lack of growth potential and "strain on infrastructure and facilities" as the reason to move away from the Seat Unique Stadium - as it is known for sponsorship reasons.

A new purpose-built ground would allow the club to host bigger international cricket fixtures and also afford the opportunity to be part of white-ball franchise tournaments, their statement continued, such as the Hundred.

Restrictions around the current site limit Gloucestershire's ability to host events outside the regular summer cricket season.

Gloucestershire were relegated to County Championship Division Two in 2022 and finished bottom of the table this season.

In the club's most recent accounts to the year ending January 2023, Gloucestershire recorded £570,000 losses compared with £92,000 profit the previous year.

Gloucestershire's founder is legendary amateur WG Grace, who helped acquire the Nevil Road site in 1879.

The first ever County Championship match was played at the ground in 1890, between Gloucestershire and Yorkshire.

Richard Gould, chief executive of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) added: "It's fantastic to see Gloucestershire displaying the ambition to provide cricket fans in the West Country with a state-of-the-art sports and leisure arena."

Zaman Akhter: Gloucestershire agree one-year extension..

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Zaman Akhter was scouted by Gloucestershire while playing for the South Asian Cricket Academy (SACA)

Gloucestershire have handed a one-year extension to seamer Zaman Akhter.

The right arm fast bowler signed his first professional contract in March ahead of the 2023 season.

Zaman made his debut against Durham in the County Championship in May and went on to claim 19 first-class wickets.

"Zaman was an important player for us last season and gave us a much-needed extra pace option across all formats," Head Coach at Gloucestershire Cricket, Dale Benkenstein, said.

The 24-year-old joined Gloucestershire after he was spotted by a scout while playing for the South Asian Cricket Academy (SACA).

"It's been great to see Zaman develop as the season progressed and I've no doubt in his ability to continue to improve as we move into the 2024 season and beyond," Benkenstein told the club website.

In September, the seamer claimed his best bowling in an innings as he returned 4/33 at Leicestershire.

He also recorded his top score of 41* in that match.

"I'm really excited to sign an extension with the club," Zaman told the club website.

"My first year gave me a proper taste of professional cricket and I loved every minute.

"I've got some things I want to work on over the winter for next season which will hopefully help to bring about success for the team on the field."