Gloucestershire County Cricket Club head coach Dale Benkenstein and bowling coach Robbie Joseph have recently left the club, taking opportunities with Lancashire and Kent for the upcoming 2024 season.
Before spending two years as head coach of Gloucestershire, Benkenstein had previously worked for Lancashire as batting coach on a short-term basis in the summer of 2021 before becoming head coach of the Bristol based outfit in November 2021.
Chief Executive Will Brown was complimentary of Benkenstein when the decision was announced, saying “Dale has worked hard throughout a challenging couple of years to create a new structure within the cricket department and to develop our squad of talented players. We thank him for his efforts.”
The other major staff departure is of bowling coach Joseph who is set to take up a similar role at the club. Joseph played most of his career for, Kent.
Joseph joined Gloucestershire in 2022 and stayed until the end of the 2023 before the opportunity of working closer to his home and family arose from Kent.
Joseph spent a decade of his career in Canterbury taking over 200 wickets across all three formats for the Southeast side from 2004 to 2011 before rejoining the county in 2014 for one season.
“First and foremost, I’d like to thank Gloucestershire County Cricket Club for the opportunity to become Lead Bowling Coach of this historic Club. “It’s with mixed emotions that my journey here will come to an end, but this opportunity gives me the chance to be closer to my young family. I’m looking forward to my new journey at Kent – this time as a coach” stated Jospeh on his departure from the club.
All-rounder Ollie Price has once again been selected to represent the England Lions on their tour of India at the start of 2024, in which the squad of 15 players will play three four-day matches against India A, all in Ahmedabad.
Having impressed in the County Championship during the summer, in which Price scored 763 runs at an average of nearly 50, he was selected for an England Lions training camp in the UAE where the team faced Afghanistan A. Price went on to score 47 runs against the Middle Eastern outfit.
The Lions tour of India will coincide with England’s Test Team touring India from late January to March for a five-match series as Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes face their toughest challenge yet.
Left-arm pace bowler David Payne has been selected as a replacement player for the Adelaide Strikers in this season’s Big Bash in Australia. Payne will be available for the whole competition, including the knockout stages if the Strikers get that far in season 13.
The one-time England international was an integral part of Perth Scorchers winning last season’s Big Bash as he picked up 10 wickets in six games as the Western Australian side won a record fifth trophy in 12 seasons.
Upon the announcement of Payne signing, head coach and former Australian bowler, Jason Gillespie spoke highly of his newest recruit. “He is a proven performer at the highest level and will bring a wealth of experience to our team. His wicket-taking ability, skills in the field and positivity around the group will all be invaluable to our outfit.”.
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