Warwickshire vs Gloucestershire, VITALITY T20 BLAST 2020, Today Match Prediction 02 Sep 2020

warks vs gloucs Match Prediction & Analysis

With the competition heating up in the Central Group of the T20 Blast 2020 this upcoming game between the Birmingham Bears and Gloucestershire would be a very important one for both the sides. Birmingham Bears have done well so far in the season and shall go into this game with lots of expectations. Gloucestershire’s win in the last game against Worcestershire would add to their confidence. 

Birmingham Bears have dominated games between the two sides winning the last seven out of eight games that they have played. They are playing at home and the knowledge about the conditions will add to their advantage in this game. Gloucestershire haven’t had a great record at Edgbaston, Birmingham in the recent years and this will be a battle against their poor record at this venue. 

TEAMS PREVIEW

Warwickshire Preview

Will Rhodes’ side won their last game against Glamorgan and this would have surely added to the confidence in their camp. The side seems to have got their team composition right and look in good spirits. They have a good record against Gloucestershire and Rhodes would look to maintain it winning this game. 

Ian Bell and Ed Pollock form a very strong opening combination and Bell’s immense experience in a big plus for the side. The middle order is also blessed with the in-form trio of Adam Hose, Rhodes and Sam Hain who will look to anchor the innings. In Michael Burgess, Olly Stone and Tim Bresnan the side has good firepower going into this game. 

In the bowling department Olly Stone and Tim Bresnan have done well with the new ball and the skipper would expect a similar show from them in this game. Jacob Lintott’s good economy rate adds to the strength of this bowling attack and they will look forward to a better show from Henry Brookes and the experienced Jeetan Patel

Warwickshire Predicted Playing XI:

Will Rhodes (c), Ed Pollock, Adam Hose, Ian Bell, Sam Hain, Michael Burgess (wk), Tim Bresnan, Olly Stone, Jeetan Patel, Henry Brookes, Jacob Lintott

Gloucestershire Preview

Jack Taylor’s side comes into this game after a commanding 22 run win against Worcestershire. It was a game where their batsmen looked in good form though the bowling attack struggled a bit. Taylor would want his side to win the mental battle in the next game given the kind of poor record they have against the Bears.  

Their openers Miles Hammond and Chris Dent look in great form at the moment and the side would look for another rock solid start from them. Middle order also did well in the last game with Ian Cockbain, Ryan Higgins and Taylor also look in decent form at the moment. In James Bracey and George Scott they have good hitters of the ball down the order. 

It is their bowling attack that seems to be the weak point at the moment and in the last game we saw good performances from Graeme van Buuren and David Payne alone. Other bowlers went for plenty of runs and the side will need better line and length from Higgins and Tom Smith in this game. 

Gloucestershire Predicted Playing XI:

Jack Taylor (c), Miles Hammond, Chris Dent, Ian Cockbain, Ryan Higgins, James Bracey (wk), George Scott, Graeme van Buuren, Tom Smith, David Payne, Matt Taylor

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

We might see rain interruptions during the game on September 2 as the weatherman forecasts rains. There would be lot of assistance for the bowlers in the early overs and batsmen will have to come out with a measured approach. The side batting first would be happy to have a score of 160 or more on the board.

Venue Details

Edgbaston, Birmingham has historically been a bowler’s venue and fast bowlers have always done well here in T20 games picking up lot of wickets in the early overs. The ground being large in size doesn’t allow too many hitting opportunities to the batsmen. Spinners don’t derive much out of this surface as the ball doesn’t turn much here.

Toss: To Bowl

The weather is likely to be a factor at the toss as there are rains on the cards going into the game and the side that bats second has advantage in such scenarios. Both the captains would have this in their minds when they go out for toss and the side winning it is likely to bowl first on this surface.