Gloucestershire Cricket will play a West of England Premier League (WEPL) Select XI as part of their preparation for the Vitality T20 Blast.

The county will play a team made up some of the best players in club cricket at Clifton College on 29th June (5.30pm start). Entry is free.

The WEPL XI includes 16-year-old Frocester and Gloucestershire Under-17 leg-spinner Alex Russell who has taken 12 wickets at an average of 20 so far in his debut season in Premier One.

The side will be captained by Bath and ex-Gloucestershire all-rounder Paul Muchall who picked the side following consultations with WEPL captains.

The team includes current Gloucestershire seamers Ollie Currill and Callum Gregory who have taken 14 wickets each for Premier One table-toppers Downend.

A third Downend player, Brandon Gilmour, has also received the call-up after scoring 200 runs at 40 and taking nine wickets at 17.

Bristol CC and Gloucestershire batsman James Bracey – who has yet to play in the Vitality Blast – will have the opportunity to bat alongside his elder brother Sam.

The Winterbourne batsman/wicketkeeper is the highest runscorer across WEPL’s seven divisions (with 553) and smashed 200 v Congresbury last weekend.

Between them the brothers have scored over 1,000 runs in WEPL cricket in just 16 matches in 2018.

The Select XI line-up also includes Clevedon’s Harry Ellison who has scored 373 runs in all WEPL cricket this year and team-mate Jacob Lintott.

The all-rounder has scored 373 runs and taken 23 wickets across league and T20 matches this year and was part of the WEPL XI that beat Gloucestershire last year.

Thornbury all-rounder Dan Davis is rewarded after being named player of the year in the Glos/Wilts division last season and starting strongly with bat and ball in 2018.

And last but by no means least is Bristol left arm spinner Louie Shaw who has represented England Under-19s and has been playing for Somerset 2nd XI this season.

Gloucestershire 2nd XI coach Owen Dawkins said: “In considering all players it has been important to pick a balanced side to give us the best chance of again winning the game.”

Gloucestershire kick off their Vitality Blast campaign away at local rivals Somerset on 6th July. Their first home match is under floodlights at the Brightside Ground, against Kent Spitfires on 11th July.

WEPL Select XI and Selected 2018 Statistics (All statistics correct up to 22nd June)

1.Harry Ellison – batsman – Clevedon (373 runs SR 109 in all WEPL cricket this year)
2. James Bracey – batsman/wk- Bristol (leading run scorer in Prem 1)
3. Brandon Gilmour – allrounder – Downend (200 runs @40 & 9 wickets @17)
4. Dan Davis – allrounder – thornbury (299 runs in Prem 2 & 12 wickets @15)
5. Sam Bracey – batsman/wk – Winterbourne (leading run scorer in all WEPL cricket this season)
6. Paul Muchall – allrounder – Bath (243 runs & 9 wickets)
7. Jacob Lintott – left arm legspinner/allrounder – levedon (in all WEPL this year 363 at SR 106 & 23 wickets @12)
8. Louie Shaw – left arm spinner – Bristol (9 wickets in Prem 1)
9. Oliver Currill – seamer – Downend (joint 3rd leading wicket taker in Prem 1 14 wickets @16)
10. Callum Gregory – seamer -Downend (joint 3rd leading wicket taker in prem 1 – 14 wickets @21)
11. Alex Russell – leg spinner – Frocester (12 wickets in Prem 1 @20)