ROBERT CROFT


Head Coach Robert Croft takes time out from pre-season preparations to look ahead to the new season.


We’ve split this winter up into three phases. From November 7 through to December 17th was phase 1 and we’re into phase 2 now, before the guys get a week off and by the time we come back at the start of March we’ll be training on grass hopefully. This year there’s no marquee or overseas tour. We’ve chosen not to go down that route. Sometimes these measures can put the players in warm conditions when you know first game up in April won’t be that warm, so is it that realistic? We’ve decided to try it this way round.


I was pleased with certain aspects of the first season as Head Coach and disappointed with others. I’ve learnt more about the squad, the support staff and myself and that’s been a valuable experience. It was really encouraging to see players coming into the team and doing well - for their own confidence and our confidence in them - that’s a double positive.


Particularly in the one-day form of the game we showed signs that we could compete and beat good teams. We had opportunities in the four-day format, but red ball cricket is a form of the game you need to win those 50/50 games and when you win those matches it’s amazing how confidence does grow.


Last year we didn’t get there but we’ve looked and reflected on potential reasons why that didn’t happen and we are hoping to put that right this year.


The way that the counties recruit these days and the way they are encouraged to bring on their own players tends to mean that most squads are made up of the same amount of homegrown players as with those players brought in. Sides are always looking for that perfect balance of youth and experience. You


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hope the experience will be guaranteed performers and they pass on their knowledge and confidence to the youngsters so they play well. That’s a style of team that we hope to put on the field for Glamorgan. I doubt there will be many teams capable of putting 8 home grown players on the field. The incentives for sides to win competitions and the incentives for sides to stay up in Division 1, to win the 50 over competition and also the T20 itself is a very unique tournament now. For sides to identify that tournament to play homegrown players is a very difficult one to do, because each club realises the positive financial effect success has in that tournament which can outweigh the reasons for picking teams in that competition over others.


T20 will attract overseas players as it has done and it will encourage teams - and those who pick teams - to put a side on the field that is capable of playing the style of cricket at home people want to come and watch and that means winning cricket, and that means getting to quarter-finals and Finals Day and the lure is too great for sides to just fall back on homegrown.


The style of cricket I like to see our side play is a positive brand of cricket. That’s not just me that’s suits the mentality of our players because a coach would be silly to impart his style of game to a group of players who (a) can’t produce it or (b) don’t have the mentality to follow it through. Also it is really good that Jacques is on the page as well because the captain has a huge say in how cricket is played in this country and quite rightly so.


On our day we were very good and for the first half to 10 games of the T20 tournament we were exceptional


MAKING WALES PROUD // GLAMORGANCRICKET.COM


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