Robert Croft Wants Stronger Characters But Sees Bright Glamorgan Future

Robert Croft has questioned his Glamorgan team’s character after their season finished on a low with another defeat.

The county’s head coach was unhappy with a batting collapse on Thursday during which they lost six wickets for just 10 runs to hand Leicestershire victory.

It was Glamorgan’s eighth defeat of a dreadful County Championship season as they finished bottom but one of division two.

Croft said: “Cricket’s a game of technique and tactics, but that occasion was more a test of character.

“The position in the league is disappointing but it’s been encouraging in terms of where our next wave of players are coming from. I’ll take time to reflect on the season as a whole.

“We need to identify challenging areas, and work out formulas to eradicate that.”

Hopes were high when Croft took over as head coach in February, but aside from a promising T20 campaign, it has been a season that has exposed Glamorgan’s weaknesses and reliance on key players to find form.

The former England spinner insists, however, that the youngsters in his squad have shown enough potential in difficult circumstances to offer encouragement for the future.

England under-19 batsman Aneurin Donald, still a teenager, has been joined by fellow batsmen Nick Selman (20) and Kiran Carlson (18), all-rounder Owen Morgan (22), and bowler Lukas Carey (19).

“Short term, it’s been disappointing but for the middle and future it looks bright,” Croft said.

“Aneurin has come in, Kiran Carlson has come in, Nick Selman, and Timm van der Gugten in his first county season.”

Jacques Rudolph wants to remain as captain next season, despite his poor form as a batsman, during which he scored only 659 Championship runs.

Rudolph, normally a prolific scorer, played in 15 Championship matches, but failed to score a single century and averaged just 24.

He said: “It does add a bit of pressure, but it’s an honour and a privilege to captain Glamorgan. It is a challenge I would still like to accept.”