CONSIDERABLE evidence of both improvement and potential. Keep moving forward.

This is the half term report on our Gloucestershire county cricket team. The championship programme has reached the midway point and the YB40 programme does not resume until August 11, when there are four matches in a month.

What could be the decider is against Somerset at Bristol on August 25.

The T20 competition starts on Friday (June 28) but there has hardly been a fixture congestion in the midsummer run-up, with nothing other the friendly match against Australia A recently.

The break, however, gives us the opportunity to look at the county's fortunes. Third place in the championship is heartening indeed, as is the YB40 record.

The team has shown it can play good cricket in both the red- and white-ball competitions. There are several reasons for improvement and the first one is captain Michael Klinger - otherwise known as Max. First of all, he has brought stability and runs to the upper order.

Only one county has obtained more batting bonus points and our better opening partnerships are allowing our middle order batsmen to prosper.

Hamish Marshall and Alex Gidman are both in the form of their lives, Benny Howell has settled in at number six and the batting of wicket keepers Cameron Herring and now Gareth Roderick has been a revelation.

Captain Michael has an approach that is both gentle and firm. He has called for a more disciplined approach in the four-day game and the players have responded.

He enjoys leading a young squad and they, in turn, enjoy playing with him. In every respect, he is a quality signing. Injuries have handicapped our bowling attack, as has the suspension of Jack Taylor. Ian Saxelby is particularly missed.

This has meant more opportunities for the younger players and how well they have responded. Craig Miles has been a revelation as his haul of wickets indicates.

He may well be selected for England U19s and that will considerably weaken our attack. Spin bowlers Miles Hammond and Tom Shrewsbury may join him there leaving our bowling resources thin - but for all the right reasons. One unsung hero in our attack is Howell.

Asked to play a containing role while the strike bowlers take a breather, Benny has done more than that, turning in a match-winning performance at Leicester.

He is a key member of a bowling unit which showed its strength in the recent demolition of Hampshire. Showing exceptional maturity for someone still at school, off spinner Hammond is one for the future.

He looks a real diamond. AS players regain full fitness there is genuine competition for first team places. Roderick and Herring are both capable of keeping wicket and scoring runs; Iain Cockburn has yet to start a championship match and Liam Norwell and Graeme McCarter are bowlers waiting in the wings.

The reason for this is the emergence of so many 'Dawkins Ducklings'. Five members of our staff (Dent, Payne, J Taylor, Hammond and Shrewsbury) have played for England at U19 level and more will surely follow.

Good young cricketers wish to join our county. They know they will get a good schooling in the game and there will be first team opportunities. With one exception (Nottinghamshire) the second team are competitive.

It is a team filled with young, homegrown players. This is exactly as it should be. Our county is producing young cricketers, many from within its boundaries.

They are ready and able to play first class cricket and some may do us proud at international level.

This does not happen instantly. The right framework has to be established then cricketers have to be found and encouraged.

Five years ago a frustrated member asked me 'Where are our young players?' The whole of the cricket world now knows the answer. Watch this space.