Jon Lewis has expressed his excitement to resume his opening bowling partnership with fellow-quick Steve Kirby once the new season gets underway.
In an interview with the club's official website www.gloscricket.co.uk the 33-year-old said he is pleased to be able to concentrate fully on his cricket now that the burden of captaincy is off his shoulders.
A fit and firing Jon Lewis will be essential to the shire's success this season. His experience makes him a vital part of the attack, with his ability of bowling at the death especially important in the one-day arena.
Lewis has been working hard to improve the strength of his ankles, following his surgery that kept him out for long parts of the 2007 season and is hoping for an injury-free season that will hopefully bring success back to the club.
Success according to Lewis, will be any trophy. I have to disagree strongly with that idea.
Most Gloucestershire supporters would like to see all-round improvement, particularly in the county championship, where the shire were embarrassed last season after finishing bottom of division two without a single win. This is the cricket that matters to most real cricket fans, and I wouldn't accept a Twenty20 cup triumph with another bottom-placed finish; one would suggest that the chief executive certainly would.
While the 2007 finals day at Edgbaston was a fantastic day out, a replication this year would not match the excitement should the shire be in with a shout of promotion on the final day of the championship season.
If Jon Lewis can regain the form he showed to gain a England call-up a few seasons back, it will go a long way to improving the glos' fortunes, however, it will take a whole team effort to bring back real success to Nevil Road.
Hang on a sec! - to quote Lewis directly:
ReplyDelete'Any trophy would mean a successful season and so would promotion in the County Championship. We have to aim for a top two spot in the Second Division and, although we struggled for results in four-day cricket last season, I believe it's an achievable aim.'
Doesn't sound like he's dismissing the county championship to me! His excuse for our poor performance last year is too obvious though, but at least he seems to realise that doing well in the championship matters.