Gloucs set to challenge

Jon Lewis (right) had injury problems last summer

Test Match Special commentator Simon Mann assesses Gloucestershire's prospects for the 2002 County Championship.

After two years of unprecedented success, last season was a chastening experience for Gloucestershire.

Invincibility was replaced by vulnerability in the one-day game and for the second year in a row they finished fourth in Division Two of the championship, narrowly missing out on promotion

Three factors will determine whether they can rediscover their best this summer: the fitness of opening bowlers Jonathan Lewis and Mike Smith, the motivation of their experienced internationals, Mark Alleyne, Jack Russell, Ian Harvey and Kim Barnett, and the ability of a fragile middle order to make substantial runs.

  Championship prediction

Top three at last

Lewis played only five Championship matches in 2001 before succumbing to a back injury, while Smith played only once.

Gloucestershire cannot afford to have them missing for such long periods as too much was asked of the improving James Averis.

Alleyne leads the side for a sixth successive year. He is an exceptional county cricketer and at 33 still has more to offer.

Harvey has also been vital to Gloucestershire's success and returns for his fourth season. International commitments and injury restricted his availability last summer. Gloucestershire should see more of him this time.

Spearman adds quality to the batting line-up

Russell is 38 and Barnett 41. Inevitably, their bodies will cry for mercy some time in the future. But if all four players are fit and in form then the side should win promotion in the Norwich Union League and succeed at the third attempt in the championship.

The team is packed with all-rounders and excellent fielders. Barring injuries, it is not impossible they could challenge in the knockout trophies as well.

Craig Spearman, a former New Zealand Test batsman who has slipped through the qualification net because of his Welsh mother, should give a fragile batting line-up more stability.

His arrival led to Dominic Hewson's departure and Spearman will be expected to improve upon Hewson's 816 runs at 35.47.

Rob Cunliffe has also gone after eight seasons with the county. He has joined Leicestershire.

The pressure is on Matt Windows and Tim Hancock, two able county batsmen, to justify their batting places.

  Gloucestershire 2002

Captain: Mark Alleyne

Coach: John Bracewell

Overseas player: Ian Harvey

Main signings: Craig Spearman, Ian Fisher (Yorkshire)

Main departures: Dominic Hewson (Derbyshire), Rob Cunliffe (Leicestershire), Mike Cawdron (Northamptonshire), Reggie Williams

Windows, an England A tourist in 1998-99, has not quite fulfilled his potential while Hancock, a key member of Gloucestershire's successful one-day side, missed much of last season because of injury.

Martyn Ball and Jeremy Snape will have benefitted from their time with England squads over the winter.

Ball is unlikely to get the call again but Snape has a place in England's World Cup squad to play for so his motivational levels will be higher than ever. He is one of the most improved players in the country.

Left-arm spinner Ian Fisher, who had an unsuccessful time at Yorkshire, has been signed to replace the inexperienced Tom Cotterell, who was released at the end of last season.