Steve Snell has called for Rob Key to look at the amount of cricket being played after Gloucestershire suffered several injuries in six back-to-back matches
Gloucestershire performance director Steve Snell has called on Rob Key to look at the domestic schedule after his side – featuring three loanees following injuries to several key players – were well beaten by Somerset.
The Bristol county dipped into the temporary signing market to bring in Jacob Bethell, Zak Chappell and Brad Wheal following injuries to Naseem Shah, Chris Dent, David Payne, Mohammad Amir, Tom Smith and Ben Charlesworth.
Amir, who replaced Naseem as an overseas seamer, was unavailable for the west-country derby due to a tight hamstring, while Ajeet Singh Dale was rested on the back of his exertions in four of Gloucestershire's first five LV= Insurance County Championship matches. Youngster Dom Goodman was also rested.
"It feels like everything is coming at once against us at the moment, but cricket can be a ruthless game and we were thoroughly beaten in this match," Snell told the ECB Reporters Network. He watched his captain, Graeme van Buuren, who was only appointed as Dent's successor in pre-season, leave the field with a shoulder injury on the second day at Bristol; he was consequently unable to bat in either innings of a heavy three-day defeat.
"It has been a hugely tough six weeks for us in which we have done an awful lot of fielding. Without making excuses, the schedule needs to be looked at because six four-day games back-to-back at the start of the season is too many.
"There is no way you can produce the level of cricket you want to in those circumstances, and it is something for the new England managing director Rob Key to look at.
"Jacob Bethell showed what a talent he is, and we would love to have him back sometime. But thankfully some of our own players should be fit by the time T20 starts and we are looking forward to the change of competition."
Graeme van Buuren was helped off the field after suffering a shoulder injury against Somerset (Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
Gloucestershire have spent more than 950 overs in the field in the last month and are one of few counties yet to have afforded a week off courtesy of the schedule. Their break now comes at an opportune moment.
Dent, who has started the season in fine form, sustained an ankle ligament injury while making an unbeaten double hundred against Surrey and missed the Somerset clash, while Charlesworth – who began the season at the top of the order before the arrival of Marcus Harris as an overseas opener – suffered a stress fracture to his foot in Gloucestershire's defeat by Yorkshire and is likely to be sidelined until midsummer.
Payne, the leader of the county's bowling attack for some years, has only been fit for the home draw against Surrey, when his side spent 165.4 overs in the field. His start to the season was delayed by Covid, and he has subsequently struggled with an ankle problem.
Amir hadn't played a red-ball game for three years prior to being enlisted by Gloucestershire following the shoulder issue suffered by Naseem on his debut for the club against Northamptonshire. But his debut against Surrey and the following defeat by Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl have taken a toll on his hamstring.
Gloucestershire are believed to be looking at Amir as an overseas option for the two red-ball matches in June that break up the T20 Blast campaign. They will have an overseas spot to fill, with Harris departing for Australia A's tour of Sri Lanka. Chappell also confirmed that his monthlong loan deal could be extended. It is hoped that Naseem will return in time for the county's T20 campaign; he bowled against Somerset's second-team in a warmup game on Friday.
Left-arm spinner Smith has also been absent with a calf problem suffered during a second-team outing.
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