By Simon Mann Test Match Special commentator

Gloucestershire rivalled Leicestershire for internal squabbling last season and it had a damaging affect on their championship fortunes.

A team that was close to promotion in the previous two seasons slumped to eighth place in Division Two amid rumours that some players had fallen out with coach John Bracewell.

Jonty Rhodes will strengthen the side's already impressive one-day credentials

Two definitely did and it was no surprise that Kim Barnett and Jeremy Snape left during the winter.

Nevertheless, it is hard to see Gloucestershire recovering lost ground and being among Division Two's leading contenders.

If Bracewell is named as Sri Lanka's new coach, it will be interesting to see if it has a positive or negative effect on Gloucestershire's fortunes.

The arrival of Jonty Rhodes should help team morale but will do more to strengthen the side's already impressive one-day credentials.

They have a soft middle order and an attack that lacks a cutting edge.

There is a serious need for a strike bowler, especially because Ian Harvey could miss large parts of the season due to international commitments.

He is already out of the first two championship matches after being selected for Australia's A team and money is too scarce for the county to sign a temporary replacement.

Australia's schedule during the English summer could force him to miss up to nine of Gloucestershire's championship matches, but his absence will provide opportunities for some of the county's young players.

GLOUCESTERSHIRE 2003 Coach: John Bracewell Captain: Mark Alleyne Overseas players: Ian Harvey, Jonty Rhodes Players in: Phillip Weston Players out: Jeremy Snape, Kim Barnett, Ben Gannon

All-rounder Mark Hardinges produced some promising performances in one-day cricket last season, while pace bowler Alistair Bressington received help from Dennis Lillee in Perth during the winter.

Roger Sillence, who played four championship matches last season, is another who has been working on his game in Australia.

Most responsibility though will rest with Jon Lewis. After missing the majority of 2001 with a back injury, he returned to full fitness but failed to reach the heights of previous seasons.

He will need to improve substantially on 44 wickets at 37.77.

The arrival of Rhodes and Phillip Weston should strengthen the batting line-up but as a whole it fails to inspire confidence.

Craig Spearman enjoyed a superb first season - he scored 1,388 runs at 49.57 - Jack Russell was always dependable and Alex Gidman made a promising breakthrough, but more is needed from Matt Windows, Chris Taylor and Tim Hancock.

Mark Alleyne begins his seventh year as captain but his form suffered considerably last summer and if matters do not improve, it could be his last in charge.

Despite their slump in the championship, Gloucestershire were still good enough to ease to the Second Division title in the Norwich Union League and reach the quarter-finals of both knock-out competitions.

With promotion probably beyond them in the championship, the one-day game could again provide some consolation, especially when Rhodes and Harvey get on the field together.