Could Gloucestershire grab one of the three Division Two promotion spots up for grabs?

Gloucestershire County Cricket Club

Captain: Chris Dent (Championship and 50 over), Michael Klinger (T20)
Last season: CC2: 5/10; RL50: 7/9 South Group; T20: QF
Transfers in: Stuart Whittingham (Sussex), Dan Worrall (Aus)
Transfers out: Craig Miles, Liam Norwell (both Warks), Kieran Noema-Barnett (released)

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Stick on: Chris Dent

The homegrown opener has averaged 42 in first-class cricket since the start of 2015; no mean feat on the batsman’s graveyards of Division Two and perhaps sufficient to put him in the frame for Test selection if he played for a more fashionable county.

Wildcard: Jack Taylor

After receiving three bans for an illegal action as an off-spinner, the 27-year-old has taken the step of converting himself into a leggie.

Prediction

CC2: 8/10; RL50: 9/9 South Group; T20: 6/9 South Group

The departure of Craig Miles and Liam Norwell, two exciting young quicks with England aspirations, is a hammer blow to a county with already scarce resources and probably scuppers any promotion chances. The squad looks better suited to T20, with the evergreen Michael Klinger leading the side and Benny Howell continuing to bamboozle the best around.

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This county cricket 2019 preview was first published in issue 18 of Wisden Cricket Monthly. Subscribe here.