Cowan keen to return to Gloucestershire

By Paul Bolton, County News Correspondent

Australia A captain Ed Cowan is keen to play more county cricket for Gloucestershire after a brief but successful first stint last month.

Cowan, who played for British Universities while was a student at Oxford Brookes University nine years ago, made a century against Essex at Cheltenham last month in his only LV= County Championship appearance for Gloucestershire.

His brief stint in county cricket helped left-hander Cowan prepare for Australia A’s four-match tour of England which finished on Friday but Cowan hopes for a longer stint at the start of next season to acclimatise for what he hopes will be his first Ashes tour of England.

“The time I spent with Gloucestershire really helped me very quickly for the A tour after a little break from the West Indies Test to find my legs in match mode,” Cowan said. “It doesn’t matter how many hours you have in the nets nothing take the pace of batting in the middle that innings against Essex, seven hours at the crease was invaluable.

“Fingers crossed, if things do go to plan next year,  I’m looking to come back for a couple months leading into an Ashes series. Playing over here is not only great fun but it’s great conditioning for the skills you need out in the middle for the next level.”

Cowan will not be returning to Australia with his A-team colleagues because his wife, who is based in Cirencester, is due to give birth to a baby girl. “Hopefully there a baby somewhere in the next 48 hours,” Cowan said. “We are still waiting and we are now a week overdue.”

There is also a possibility that Cowan will be back playing for Gloucestershire before the end of the season as Rob Nicol has been included in New Zealand’s squad for the two-match Twenty20 series in India.

“Hopefully there still might be some cricket for me to play towards the back end of the season depending on Rob Nicol’s availability. I’m here anyway with the baby,” Cowan said.

“If not I will head home knowing everything is in order and looking forward to starting the domestic season well and hopefully getting a crack at the South Africans in the first Test.”


Date: 18/08/2012 18:45:26 by Paul Bolton
In: Today | Gloucestershire |