Gloucestershire Cricket’s James Bracey believes that they are “raring to go” as they look to retain their T20 Blast trophy.
The side is yet to win a game in the County Championship season, but it hasn’t been the worst start possible to their campaign, after two draws and a tight defeat in three of their five games this season.
Mark Alleyne, in his first year back in charge, led Gloucestershire to their first-ever T20 Blast triumph against Somerset, with no side ever going back-to-back in the 21 years of the competition. This sets a clear target for the county.
Gloucestershire win the T20 Blast for the 1st time 🏆 pic.twitter.com/NAFpr4gmZZ
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) September 14, 2024
“It’s a unique opportunity,” Bracey said. “We’re really excited to just continue on in the same way we did last year. People will be out to get us and it will be a tough challenge but we’re feeling like we’re even with all the red-ball cricket in a good place white-ball-wise, we’ve tried to keep our top-ups going and hopefully, we’ll be raring to go.
“Batting and keeping is similar, in red ball it’s more about consistency, repetition and making sure you’re in good solid positions. Then once the white ball comes it’s all a bit more chaotic, It’s being aware that you might get a high catch here, a flat catch here, a one-handed catch here. As well as batting you might need to target a certain bowler and think a bit more tactically as well. Just appreciating all those chaotic elements and trying to be prepared for everything.”
April was a busy month for the 28-year-old with him being stand-in captain when the county met Derbyshire at the start of the season. He earned a new contract which keeps him at the club till 2028, also winning the club’s player of the month for April.
𝐖𝐞’𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐲 🤝
— Gloucestershire Cricket 🏆 (@Gloscricket) April 3, 2025
Nine years on from his debut in 2016, James Bracey has signed a three-year extension through to 2028!#BecomeGlorious pic.twitter.com/pqJFD4dava
The wicketkeeper has been playing first-class cricket for the county since 2016 and earned a call-up to the English international set-up in 2021, where he had a disappointing outing in his two tests against New Zealand. He has since allowed it to benefit his game at the Seat Unique Stadium.
“Yeah good, nice to be recognised,” Bracey added as he touched on his Player of the Month award. ”We’ve had a lot of guys putting in good performances so it’s a really nice start to the year and hopefully it sets up the rest of it.
As voted for by you, your Watches of Bath Player of the Month for April is 𝗝𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘆! 🥇
— Gloucestershire Cricket 🏆 (@Gloscricket) May 7, 2025
🏏 404 @CountyChamp runs
📊 80.80 average
🔝 151* vs Kent at Canterbury
🧤 21 wicketkeeping dismissals
Bracey also batted for 447 consecutive deliveries without being… pic.twitter.com/IBFyYKjvr1
“It was a tough result in the Derby game, but I’ve learnt a lot from it and learning a lot more from Cam as he’s stepped in and done a really good job so far so it’s all credits to take forward. Learnt a bit from the negative result we got and hopefully the next time I’m called upon it will be a better one.
“It’s nice to be set up, it definitely takes a little bit of the load off. It’s always hard negotiating contracts and knowing where you’re going to be when there’s a season to be focusing on as well so it was great to get that locked in before.”
The side has had the addition of some Australian flair over the last year, with Cameron Bancroft and Cameron Green joining the side. Bancroft took up the captaincy after Graeme Van Buuren stepped down from the role in January, whilst Green joined the county to prepare for his World Test Championship final for the Aussies, which he was picked for on Tuesday.
“The additions we’ve made this year with Greeny and last with Bancroft bring a really good standard,” Bracey felt. “They’re really down to earth and fit in which goes a long way.
“I think Bancroft having spent a lot more time with him has been great for everyone in the dressing room. The way he approaches his batting, the whole captaincy, and the care he takes in all his training has rubbed off really well on all of us and obviously, Greeny is really star quality.”
Gloucestershire have two County Championship games against Kent and Northamptonshire before their T20 Blast campaign gets underway at the Seat Unique Stadium against Kent on Friday, May 30.
