VIKRAM Banerjee is in Gloucestershire's squad for the first time this season for the LV County Championship match against Surrey at The Oval, starting today.

The 26-year-old slow left-armer replaces opening batsman Abdul Kadeer-Ali, who has struggled for runs and suffered an ankle injury while fielding in the victory at Middlesex last week.

With Richard Dawson also in the squad of 12 for the Surrey match, skipper Alex Gidman will have the option of selecting two spinners after assessing The Brit Oval pitch.

Chris Dent looks set to open the batting with Jonathan Batty in the absence of Ali.

The England Under-19 batsman hit a valuable 42 in the second innings against Middlesex to help Gloucestershire to their first Championship win of the season.

Among the bowlers, Gemaal Hussain will be looking to continue the form that has made him Gloucestershire's leading wicket-taker with 22 in three games.

The match offers a quick return to The Oval for wicketkeeper Batty, signed from Surrey during the winter.

Without a Championship win this term, the Londoners can recall fiery former South Africa paceman Andrew Nel to their squad.

He was been handed a two-match suspension in the Clydesdale Bank 40 competition for showing dissent to the umpires.

Gloucestershire (from): Dent, Batty (wkt), Marshall, Gidman (capt), Franklin, Taylor, Snell, Lewis, Hussain, Banerjee, Kirby, Dawson.