GLAMORGAN coach Robert Croft said after Glamorgan’s second successive defeat ‘that we have got to work our way out of this position’ and they will have that opportunity this weekend when they play Leicestershire – who have also lost their two opening games- at Grace Road .
After batting first in the games at Northampton and Cardiff, Glamorgan’s batsmen failed to combat swing and seam, although captain Jacques Rudolph admitted he should have bowled first at Wantage Road, and” he got it wrong” after electing to bat in cold, cloudy conditions.
With last season’s leading run scorer Will Bragg still absent with a sore back, there is little competition at the top of the order, where the openers Rudolph and Nick Selman are averaging only 15 from four innings. They did however put on 74 in the second innings at Cardiff, and they should benefit from what is usually a good batting pitch at Grace Road. Only David Lloyd – promoted to No. 3 in Bragg’s absence, and Aneurin Donald, have passed fifty, and there is a need for greater consistency from the batsmen.
Glamorgan have also included five seamers in the first two games, but with a favourable weather forecast for the four days, and less moisture in the pitch, they could replace one of the quicker bowlers with a spinner-Andrew Salter is an option-, which would also strengthen the batting.
Leicestershire have also under performed in their opening games, losing by ten wickets to Notts, and by an innings against Gloucestershire. Disciplinary measures were also taken against the club, which resulted in their experienced seamer Charlie Shreck suspended for the first two games, and captain Mark Cosgrove for this game against his former county. Meanwhile, former opener Angus Robson has left the club by mutual consent and is set to join Sussex.
Meanwhile, they will be hoping that their South African batsman Colin Ackerman will be fit to play after breaking his thumb against Gloucestershire. He failed to resume his first innings and was unable to take any further part in the game.
Rudolph has said “the senior players need to stand up after the poor start to the season” and a win is imperative at Grace Road. It will also erase the memories of the final game of last season, when Glamorgan were cruising to victory before losing their last six wickets for just ten runs in 26 balls.
Glamorgan squad: J.Rudolph ,N.Selman, D.Lloyd, C.Ingram, A.Donald, C.Cooke, K.Carlson, H.Podmore ,M.De Lange, M.Hogan, L.Carey, A. Salter.
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