A DISGRACE! No other word can describe the performance of Gloucestershire in the opening county championship game against Kent at Canterbury.

Despite choosing when to bat we were beaten before tea on the third day. Our batting was woeful. In our second innings we were dismissed for 61, in a mere 93 minutes.

No batsman lasted more than 40 minutes at the crease. They let us all down.

The bowler who destroyed us taking six wickets was a 41-year-old all-rounder named Darren Stevens. He has the ability to move the ball but only at medium pace. Our batsmen must step up and be counted.

Liam Norwell, Craig Miles and Chris Liddle emerged with creditable bowling figures. The only player to reach double figures twice was bowler Norwell. He took eight wickets in the game and is above criticism.

Coach Richard Dawson flagged up the problem that we could find with Hamish Marshall back in New Zealand and Michael Klinger playing only one day cricket this season. How right he was.

Last season Aussie Cameron Bancroft looked vulnerable if the ball was moving. I hope he has improved but the evidence from Canterbury suggests not. He batted for just 17 balls in the whole game.

It pains me to have to write like this and those who know me know how loyal I am to the county, but facts speak for themselves and those from Canterbury are stark and damning.

With the exception of George Hankins our batsmen are experienced cricketers. They should be hurting as much as I am.

My message to coach Richard is simple. Look at the loan market. Unless there is a marked improvement in the next game against Leicestershire dip into it.

One cheerful cricket fact which emerged on Press Day at the Brightside Ground was that promising pace bowler Ollie Currill has a true Cotswold pedigree.

Ollie went to school in Chipping Campden and started his cricket career at Moreton-in-Marsh. Having taken wickets in pre-season matches he just missed out on selection at Canterbury. He is on an academy plus contract and speaking to him on Wednesday he was hoping to make a breakthrough this season.

It is a considerable distance from Moreton to Bristol and I would imagine many parental miles were clocked up as he moved through our academy. Ollie tells me his dad reads this paper. Thanks Mr Currill.

Thanks also to both Mr Cooper senior and junior; manager Mark for his decisions and son Charlie for his performance which played a large part in the Forest Green Rovers win at Guiseley on Saturday.

My colleague Ashley Loveridge, of the Stroud News and Journal, teased some honest and forthright answers from manager Mark in an interview last week.

Those, like myself, who advocated the return of Keanu Marsh-Brown were firmly put in their place. “Keanu cannot complete a training session and until he does I cannot pick him,” said Mark.

You cannot get on the team bus unless you have earned a ticket. Get to it, Keanu – we need you.

Mark made changes in tactics and personnel for the Guiseley match. He wanted fighters, committed to the Rovers cause and included Shamir Mullings, Omar Bugiel and Manny Monthe.

These three provided vigour, vitality, height and pace, all qualities missing from the previous game.

As footballers they are all works in progress, but their presence in the team on Saturday was well deserved.

The ball was moved forward quickly and questions were always asked of the Guiseley defence, a clean sheet was kept and we came home with three points. Tranmere tomorrow night (April 11) – who won 9-0 on Saturday – present a huge challenge but on the latest showing the team is up for it. My hopes are for a draw, and a Charlie Cooper goal – he deserves one.

The period up to and including the play-offs is like a mini-season.

Seven players in our current team were not with us when the season started and three of them are loan players.

I feel there have been too many disruptions but would be delighted to be proved wrong. It would take my mind off the Gloucestershire batting.