A taste of England action has only left Gloucestershire star James Bracey craving more as the County Championship season gets underway. Glos begin their Division One campaign on the road at Northamptonshire on Thursday, and the 24-year-old is intent on staking a fresh claim for international recognition.
The Bristol-born wicketkeeper-batsman was rewarded for his fine form at the County Ground at the start of last season with a call-up for his country, making his debut against New Zealand at Lord's and playing in the second Test at Edgbaston. The step-up, though, proved to be a brutal experience.
Three innings mustered just eight runs and his wicketkeeping – a job he was tasked with after Ben Foakes was ruled out with an injury – was heavily scrutinised against a backdrop of England's long-running malaise in Test cricket. Bracey was dropped from the squad for the subsequent India series and headed back to Bristol knowing he hadn't shown his true self on the biggest stage.
Motivated by that experience, Bracey has set about improving the weaknesses in his game. There was evidence of that in action when he made a high-class 295-ball 113 for England Lions against an Australia A attack featuring Scott Boland, Michael Neser, Mitch Marsh and Mitchell Swepson – all of whom have played Test cricket since – in the winter.
The months since have been spent in his home city, working with new Glos head coach Dale Benkenstein and the support staff ahead of Thursday's season opener. Bracey believes a season of opportunity awaits not only the county but himself, with a new head coach soon to be appointed by England after Chris Silverwood's post-Ashes sacking.
The Winterborne Cricket Club prospect says he knows the road he must take to get back into the England fold and the improvements he needs to make to stay there.
He told Bristol Live: "At the start of last year, I knew there were spots going for the New Zealand games. Luckily, I started well and we won games, I got runs and it was a perfect five or six games for us.
"Those two Tests, it’s amazing to make your debut and play your first game at Lord’s. It was really special. That’s why I work so hard on my keeping as well as my batting. It creates opportunities and it was probably an opportunity that wouldn’t have been there if I hadn’t done that work. I was really grateful for that.
"It probably wasn’t how I saw myself making my Test debut, but it is what it is. I’m happy that it happened and I know what I’ve got to improve to get back in as a top-three batter. I’ve been working on the mental side of the game, dealing with pressure and the scrutiny of that level of cricket. It’s certainly very different to what I’d experienced before, so I’ve done a lot of work on that side of things.
"And I’m really just focusing on enjoying my game. It was a really tough few weeks and it has the potential to grind you down, so if you get better at that and get better at managing your expectations, it certainly makes the game a lot easier."
Bracey is relaxed but confident in this interview on a cool, damp day that felt far removed from cricket season. His chastening experience at the highest level could have left scars but it has only emboldened his desire to get back there and do it again.
With England's batting ranks in ruin after a series defeats in Australia and West Indies, coupled with the upcoming appointment of a new director of cricket, head selector and head coach, the door is open for players to seize a place in the team with a heap of early-season runs in county cricket, and Bracey is not blind to the opportunity in front of him
"I’m hoping I’m going to have another 10-12 years in the game, so there is lots of time for me to put my name forward," he said.
"It’s certainly a good place to be a top-three batter at the moment with the uncertainty about who is going to be playing the next few Tests, so I’m really keen to hit the ground running at the start of the season, hopefully in the same way as last year and, hopefully, that will put a few of us in good stead.
"Those Lions runs will come in handy. If I have a similar start to last year, I feel there is a new energy around this place and it’s going to be a great environment for guys to go out and have freedom to perform their skills. Hopefully, that works out for me and my individual aspirations as well."
The fact Gloucestershire have players in England contention is evidence of their growth in recent times. In addition to Bracey's Test caps, David Payne has been called up to two white-ball squads in the past 12 months, though he continues to wait for a debut.
The club is heading in the right direction and, with Benkenstein's nous and Championship expertise, Bracey believes Glos can contend this season.
"I think it’s the first time we’ve ever discussed putting ourselves in the hat to win it," he said. "We really think we’ve got the squad and depth that we can start to challenge. We think it’s overdue we win a white-ball trophy as well. We’re always there or thereabouts, but we need to go one step further and pick up a trophy.
"The past couple of years when we’ve started to beat the likes of Somerset and Surrey and battle it out with the likes of Hampshire and almost get into that top division last year, that is a real statement for us. It’s showing. I’ve managed to push into that Test side, Payney’s managed to push into the T20 squad, and you’ve got players on the fringes who are having their names thrown about due to sheer volume of runs and wickets.
"We’re starting to be noticed a bit more and we’re getting used to that. We’re trying to drive that in our culture; we’re not an underdog anymore. We beat the biggest teams because we’re as good as them. Hopefully, that continues and we can put our name in the hat to win a trophy or two."
Bracey has been named in a 13-man squad for the trip to Wantage Road, with Pakistan's teenage star Naseem Shah set for his debut as the fast-bowler makes his bow in county cricket. Bracey will don the gloves, with Graeme van Buuren beginning his stint as red-ball captain, and the keeper is eager to see Naseem in action.
"I’ve watched him a lot," Bracey said. He’s fast and quite an awkward angle as well. It will be great to test myself against him (in the nets), and it will be great to see how he goes for us. I’m sure he’s going to take a bagful of wickets."
Away from the middle, Bracey makes no secret of his love for Bristol Rovers, regularly attending the Memorial Stadium. He was interviewed at half time on the pitch earlier in the season and, with Rovers vying for promotion, he is certainly enjoying his time as a Gashead at the moment.
"It’s been a great couple of months," he said. "We’ve been playing some awesome football. It’s been the first time in a while when I turn up on a Saturday and I’m expecting us to win because we’re playing so well.
"We’re well in the hat, so hopefully I’m expecting a Wembley trip at least."
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