LECHLADE CC are expected to opt for the Gloucestershire partnership of seamer Craig Miles and spinner Miles Hammond when the county’s player draft is decided tonight (Wednesday), writes Danny Hall.

Gloucestershire teams in the top two tiers of the West of England Premier League get their pick from seven pairs of professional county players – with one expected to turn out for the club side each weekend.

Lechlade joined the other beneficiaries -- Cheltenham, Thornbury, Downend, Frocester, Bristol and Keynsham – for the first time thanks to winning promotion last season. As the lowest-ranked club, Lechlade have been offered first pick.

The player pairings have been chosen by new Gloucestershire coach Richard Dawson, who believes playing club cricket is an important part of his squad’s development.

The pairings are: Gareth Roderick/Cameron Herring; Tom Hampton/James Fuller; Jack Taylor/Tom Smith; Ian Cockbain/David Payne; Craig Miles/Miles Hammond; Liam Norwell/Matt Taylor and Benny Howell/Kieran Noema-Barnett.

Lechlade head coach Luke Sellers said: “Both Craig and Miles are exceptional young talents and it will be exciting to have either of them at Lechlade. It shows how far the club has come in the last few years that we are in a position to be allocated a Gloucestershire player and it will give the whole club a boost.

“Realistically we will be unlikely to see Craig much as fast bowlers’ workloads are carefully managed to avoid injury but we are hopeful that Miles may be available for a reasonable number of games.

“Having lost Asanka Vithanage we felt there was a need for another frontline spinner and everyone I have asked about Miles spoke of his attitude and ability in the highest terms.

“As a club we believe we have a coaching set-up to rival anyone and with the likes of Joe Breet and Ryan Higgins we have people who can draw on their own vast experiences to develop the next generation of players.

“We hope that as well as Miles helping us out, we can do our bit to further his development and help him take the next step in his career.”

Cheltenham-born Hammond, 19, was a member of England’s U19 World Cup squad last winter and on his Gloucestershire debut in a 40-over match at Headingley his first wicket was that of Test star Gary Ballance.

Twenty-year-old Miles, from Purton, is viewed as Gloucestershire’s top prospect and recently spent three weeks on the Potential England Performance Programme in South Africa.

GCB chief executive Steve Silk, said: “As a county we are very keen on seeing our clubs succeed as this creates the best cricket pathway for all players in the Gloucestershire family.”

THE annual general meeting of the Gloucestershire CCC Cotswolds & North Wiltshire Region will be held at The Moonrakers, Cricklade Road, Swindon. SN2 5AA on Thursday, March 5 at 7pm. All members and club supporters from the region are invited to attend. Other guests are most welcome.