Gloucestershire skipper Gidman says youngsters will get Pro-40 chance

Alex Gidman is prepared to give Gloucestershire's stars of tomorrow the chance to shine in the Pro40 League.

Defeat at the hands of Somerset in Bristol last week effectively slammed the door shut on the county's ambition to win the First Division title in the competition's final year.

Gidman and director of cricket John Bracewell already have an eye on next season and are considering using the remaining Pro40 League fixtures to blood a number of exciting young prospects.

Gloucestershire travel to the Rose Bowl a week tomorrow to play Hampshire Hawks, meet Yorkshire at Headingley on September 10 and complete their campaign against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge (September 27). And Gidman is promising to make changes.

Referring to his team's failure to maintain its challenge, he said: "It gives us an opportunity to field some of the younger guys and give them valuable experience. If there is a positive to come out of this, then that's it.

"We have three more games in the Pro40 and there will definitely be changes to the team as we look at some of our other players between now and the end of the season."

England Under-19 left arm seamer David Payne will come into contention if, as expected, he accepts the offer of a two-year professional contract this week.

Fellow teenager Chris Dent is set to agree a similar deal and the talented batsman, who plays for Thornbury in the West of England League, will also come into contention along with young seam bowler Gemaal Hussain.

Gidman added: "David Payne is someone we rate very highly and we're trying to secure him on a long-term deal. There is likely to be an opportunity for him between now and the end of the season.

"Chris Dent and Gemaal are others we are looking to bring in and the Pro40 offers us an opportunity to see what they can do ahead of next season."

Some of Gloucestershire's more senior players will be hoping to launch their comebacks in the 40-over competition and all-rounder David Brown and top-order batsman Craig Spearman are in line to face Hampshire Hawks at the Rose Bowl on Tuesday, August 25.

Gidman added: "David Brown has got over his side strain and will be in contention, while Craig is finding a bit of form in the seconds and deserves his chance."

Experienced seam bowlers Jon Lewis and Steve Kirby are unlikely to feature at the Rose Bowl tomorrow week. Both will probably be held back for the crucial Championship Second Division match against Middlesex at Lord's, which follows two days later.

Gidman explained: "There's no need for our frontline bowlers to play in all of the remaining games and some of them can take a well-earned break and be held back in readiness for the Championship.

"We have a chance to win promotion in the four-day competition and it makes sense to rest some of the bowlers and keep them fresh."

Gidman will this week seek a meeting with Gloucestershire CCC's director of cricket John Bracewell to discuss the team's entire approach to the one-day game.

Certainly, the captain is keen to experiment both in terms of personnel and tactics in the final three Pro40 outings.

He said: "I want to have a close look at the way we play one-day cricket and it's something I'll be speaking about with John.

"It's important we look to next season and consider what sort of formulas are going to work for us in the future."