After a disappointing 2009, Glamorgan coach Matthew Maynard heads into the new season under pressure. Having won just two games in each competition last season, Glamorgan continued their reputation as perennial underachievers considering the homegrown talent the county produces.
Earning the most batting points in division two of the LV County Championship when only winning twice suggests that the problems lie mainly in the bowling department, while poor batting performances in the shorter form of the game show the frailty of the current squad.
Former Gloucestershire all-rounder James Brown and Leicestershire’s James Allenby have been confirmed as new additions to the club. Brown, with a first-class batting average of 27.85 and bowling average of 44.67 with an economy rate of 4.27, hardly promises to be a big signing. At the age of 27 and without a century to his name it is hard to understand why he will prove a success at the Swalec Stadium. Allenby, however, looks to be a more promising addition to the squad with a healthier first-class batting average of 37.85 and bowling economy of 2.78. With his England ambitions in mind, Allenby will be keen to impress which can only be positive for Glamorgan.
Australian international Shaun Tait, who joins for the Twenty20 Cup, is the most high profile signing. Glamorgan need someone who can bowl at 90+ mph and Welsh fans will be excited by the prospect of seeing the young Aussie running in to bowl at the Swalec Stadium. He is said to be excited by joining his international teammate Mark Cosgrove in Cardiff and, with 22 One Day Internationals to his name, will look to make his mark on the T20 cup. This should be a huge boost to Glamorgan’s chances in the shortest form of the game but to achieve any sort of success this season, the current crop of players are going to have to find a way to live up to their potential.
The homegrown talents of Ben Wright, Tom Maynard and Mark Wallace need to improve on last season’s batting performances to support the efforts of Mark Cosgrove (who averaged 63.08 in first-class cricket last season) and Gareth Rees (averaged 44.69) and the capable consistency of Mike Powell. It is important for the new season that these three batsmen are able to prove their worth in the side and become the nucleus of the squad in the coming years.
Glamorgan have a few promising bowling talents coming through the development system and it could well be that we see them in action in the coming season. Alex Jones and Mike Reed could well stake their claims for a place in the team if the first choice bowling unit is faltering. If David Harrison can improve on his performances last season and Adam Shantry can continue his promising wicket-taking form then Glamorgan may be on the up. James Harris will also need to improve on last season and build on his inclusion in the Lions team that faced Australia. With Robert Croft, Dean Cosker and of course captain Jamie Dalrymple providing the spin options Glamorgan once again appear to have all the ingredients for a successful season.
However, it seems as if Glamorgan have regularly had the talent to perform well and challenge for trophies, it is the application that they may lack. This season the players need to take personal responsibility for the success of the team and use their abilities to put the county in contention for trophies contention. Another poor season for the Dragons will certainly result in the end of Matthew Maynard’s stay at the Swalec Stadium.
By Gaurav Hingorani
Gaurav is a journalism student at Cardiff University.
