Festival cricket fires up Kirby

Kirby joined Gloucestershire after leaving Yorkshire in 2004

Gloucestershire's Steve Kirby says next week's Cheltenham Festival can restore impetus to their season after last Sunday's FP Trophy semi-final defeat.

"We're in a good position in the County Championship at the moment," he said. "And we've got the start of the Pro40.

"And, in festival cricket throughout the country Cheltenham is one to be remembered," the Gloucestershire paceman told BBC Radio Bristol.

Gloucestershire have five matches at Cheltenham School over the fortnight.

Gloucestershire, who are top of Division Two in the County Championship, start their annual stint at Cheltenham with the four-day game against Derbyshire this Sunday (12 July, 1100 BST).

THE CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL

12 July v Derbyshire CC

17 July v Worcestershire Pro40

19 July v Essex Pro40

20 July v Northants CC

24 July v Durham Pro40

They also face a Championship game against Northamptonshire during the 13-day Festival, while Worcestershire, Essex and Durham will provide Pro40 opposition.

"The lads love playing there and they can't wait," said Kirby. "I just hope we get good weather for the two weeks and I just hope we can turn a show on."

The wicket at Cheltenham has changed from the days when Courtney Walsh wreaked havoc on visiting teams.

But Kirby feels the present side has more than enough ammunition in the bowling department to take scalps and force results on a flat wicket.

"It needs moisture in the wicket to create the bounce and we need a little grass on the surface," he said.

"If we have that then there's a good chance for a bit of pace and bounce.

"Generally the second wickets are quicker, but whatever wicket we get we have to be hitting them hard and hopefully get a win.

"There's a great squad mentality, the squad are training hard and the way John Bracewell has got us all knitting together it's a good place to be at the moment.

"He's got the balance of the team right and he's got us thinking about the simple things in the game.

"He has got us focused on the right things and our bowling unit is going well at the minute.

"We're a very strong bowling unit. We need our batting to fire and Cheltenham is batter-friendly conditions so we've got a good chance."

Overseas player James Franklin, hailed by Kirby for bringing balance to the side, is also looking forward to running in at Cheltenham.

"It's a great festival," the New Zealander told BBC Radio Gloucestershire. "I enjoy it and I've had a bit of success there and it's a great place to play cricket.

"The crowd get in and, probably of all the festivals around England, it's the best one to play. In terms of cricket it's a fabulous ground.

"It's a long, hard slog. A long, hard two weeks, but it can be very rewarding."