Gloucestershire all-rounder Ollie Price believes his side have made “some great acquisitions” for the T20 Blast, as they look to put last season’s disappointment behind them and recapture their 2024 title-winning form.
After a superb late-season run two years ago, Gloucestershire were crowned champions at Edgbaston’s Final Day with a dominant eight-wicket victory over West Country rivals Somerset, having bowled them out in the first innings for just 124.
Jack Taylor later lifted the trophy to prove doubters wrong, with Gloucestershire consistently the underdog. However, that form was not replicated in 2025 and the team finished seventh.
Now, Price is eager to put things right in 2026: “I think that’s probably the most volatile format, so we’re aware that we had a really good run to end that tournament a couple of years ago and then we had a really poor run to start the one following.
“So that was quite strange, quite difficult to deal with at the time as a team, because we came in full of confidence. I don’t think we were complacent, but it’s a tricky balance to get right.
“But we’ll be firing. We’ve made some great acquisitions for this year as well, and some great overseas signings and it’s going to be an exciting competition for sure.”
A key strength of Price, has been his ability to be explosive with his batting in the middle-order, often coming in between four and six. In the final against Somerset, he hit 7(4) as Miles Hammond, Cameron Bancroft, and James Bracey took on the majority of the runs.
However it’s the home chase alongside Ben Charlesworth earlier in the season that Price looks back at most fondly: “Yeah, I love it [batting while chasing]. It’s probably my fondest memories of cricket really, I’d say.
“Those games against Somerset in 2024 and those two chases were awesome, and obviously Ben’s someone I’ve grown up playing with and I’m pretty close to. So they’re great memories and they inspire you to try and go and do that again because those moments are really special ones.”
Price has also taken 25 wickets in 38 Blast fixtures for Gloucestershire with best figures of 3/21, with him and Charlesworth both offering strength in depth as all-rounders.
Despite now being selected primarily for his batting, the 24-year-old still enjoys taking on the ball: “Completely. I think your skills develop at a different rate. It’s not very linear but growing up I was an all-rounder and at times I saw myself as more of a bowler.
“I think I’ve come into professional games more of a batter, but I’m really hoping to upskill in both facets of the game. I love bowling, so hopefully I can have more and more impact as my career goes on.”
He added: “Everyone all the time wants to bowl. It would be a shame if people weren’t putting their hand up. I’m certainly putting my hand up and trying to catch his eye. I’m trying to get him to give me the ball.
“Obviously, he’s making those decisions and he’s making the right ones, so you’ve just got to back him.”
Gloucestershire begin their Blast campaign on Friday, May 22 when they host Warwickshire Bears.
