Rudolph Says Croft Can Get Glamorgan Believing

Glamorgan captain Jacques Rudolph has backed new head coach Robert Croft to make an instant impact as the county gets ready for the new cricket season.

Rudolph will lead Glamorgan into a three-day friendly against Somerset at the Swalec Stadium on Thursday, in readiness for the start of the LV County Championship campaign which begins on April 17.

After two one-day friendlies, it will be Croft’s first long form match in charge since he took over two months ago following the dismissal of Toby Radford.

“Crofty has a wealth of experience and has taken over a 1,000 wickets in his career as a player and scored quite a few runs too, so he gets respect from the players because of what he’s achieved,” said Rudolph.

“There’s a good vibe in the dressing room as we get ready for the new season. It’s always nice chatting cricket with him and he challenges you about your own game. For him it’s a new chapter in his coaching career and all the players are backing him.

“We played a strong brand of cricket last year and we won four games in a row which will have given the guys belief that we can achieve something and we had a small squad last year.

“In terms of our bowling depth, this year we’ve signed Timm van der Gugten and Harry Podmore on loan so our squad depth is better this year.  I’m really optimistic about our prospects for the season.”

After sitting out Tuesday’s run out against Cardiff students, James Kettleborough, Will Bragg and Aneurin Donald return to the team for the three-day red ball clash against the First Division opponents, who are fielding a strong team led by new captain and former Australia international Chris Rogers.

There is also a place in the 13-man squad for two other young Welsh players from the Glamorgan development programme, with both Lukas Carey and Sam Pearce included.

Former South Africa batsman Rudolph – who is in his second season as skipper – has returned to Wales earlier this year as Glamorgan step up preparations ahead of their opening first-class encounter and first Championship game against Leicestershire on 17 April.

Glamorgan (13-man) squad to play Somerset at Cardiff: J Rudolph (capt), W Bragg, L Carey, A Donald,  J Kettleborough, D  Lloyd, C Meshede, S Pearce, D Penrhyn Jones, A Salter, R Smith, G Wagg, M Wallace (wkt)

Somerset (13 man) squad:  C Rogers (capt), T Abell, J Allenby, T Barber, R Davies (wkt), L Gregory, T Greoenewald, J Hildreth, J Leach, C Overton, P Trego, M Trescothick and M Waller.