Gloucestershire eye Australian bowling stars for next season

AUSTRALIAN pace bowlers Ashley Noffke and Ben Hilfenhaus have emerged as candidates to be Gloucestershire's overseas star next year.

It is believed both players are on the county's list of possibles to replace Aussie batsman Marcus North.

Queenslander Noffke, 31, had a successful month with Gloucestershire early last season and fits the bill as someone who is not likely to have his availability affected by international commitments.

Tasmanian Hilfenhaus, 25, has played one-day international cricket for Australia and is touted as someone close to making a breakthrough at Test level.

Gloucestershire team mentor Jack Russell revealed yesterday that the county aim to sign an experienced domestic pace bowler before finalising who they will make their No 1 overseas target.

Russell also said the county want to make at least four or five signings this winter as they look to rebuild their squad in the wake of a dismal four-day campaign.

It looks likely Gloucestershire will finish the season with a defeat to Essex today after the home side closed the third day's play at Bristol on 175-3, requiring a further 140 to make the visitors bat again.

Even if defeat is avoided, Gloucestershire look certain to end the season without a Championship win, and it is believed that has never happened before to the county in the 118 years of the competition.

Russell said: "There is a lot of work to be done in terms of getting this squad back up to strength.

"It's hard to expect (Jon) Lewis and (Steve) Kirby to front the bowling on their own. You need four senior bowlers to work with really, and two or three young bowlers as well.

"And if you look at two of our big players in the batting, (Craig) Spearman and (Alex) Gidman, it hasn't happened for them this year and we've paid the price for that.

"One had a nasty injury and the other's been out of form. We haven't had the weight of runs from these two guys, and there's been nothing else to come in to the team.

"We've been too thin on the ground in all areas, apart from wicketkeeping.

"For instance, there was a game at Cheltenham when Chris Taylor was the last professional available to make the 11 up and he had a back problem. That can't be right, so we know we've got a lot of work to do."

At least, Gloucestershire avoided the ignominy of a three-day defeat yesterday, thanks to unbeaten half-centuries from Kadeer Ali and Taylor in the second innings.

Gloucestershire had advanced from 73-2 to 163-5 in the morning session, only to lose their last five wickets for 28 runs in 9.4 overs after the interval.

They included the dismissals of Will Porterfield and Steve Snell, who, in making 69 and 32 respectively, had shown the type of application required on a slow, lifeless pitch.

Porterfield's second-innings appearance lasted just two balls as Jahid Ahmed clipped his off stump as he pushed forward defensively.

Ahmed had Hamish Marshall lbw in his next over to leave Gloucestershire on 3-2, and it became 46-3 when Rob Woodman gave a low return catch to Antonio Palladino.

However, Kadeer and Taylor halted the clatter of wickets by batting out the final 34 overs of the day.

Kadeer finished on 92 and Taylor on 58.

Both players will be hoping to sign off with a third Championship century of the season when the match finishes today.