Croft sets targets for Glamorgan ahead of opener
ROBERT Croft wants immediate success in limited-overs cricket while overseeing redball evolution, as Glamorgan prepare for their 2018 season, which gets under way on Friday.
That’s why he has formulated a long-term plan for County Championship cricket, though he insists silverware is a realistic ambition for Glamorgan when the T20 Blast rolls into town in July.
The head coach, who has gradually infused his team with a blend of homegrown talent and overseas experience, has recent four-day travails – and white ball near-misses – at the forefront of his mind, as Glamorgan kick off their Division Two campaign at Gloucestershire.
They will be led by Michael Hogan in the Championship this season, while T20 supremo Colin Ingram takes charge of the white-ball teams.
And that separation of formats has allowed Croft to reset goals this year.
“It’s the first time we’ve had the opportunity to think short, medium and long term,” he said.
“From a white-ball perspective, the aim is to be at the sharp end of the competitions. We’ve earned the right to be respected as a good oneday team.
“And in red-ball cricket we want to give opportunities to players who have come through and been influenced by our system.
“The profile of the club is often measured by how well you do in white -ball cricket, but I have massive respect for all forms. It’s important that, over time, we build a fourday team that is able to compete and that people connect with.”
Finishing towards the bottom of Division Two has become all too common for Glamorgan, who have lost experienced batsmen Jacques Rudolph and Will Bragg to retirement over the winter.
Australian Test player Shaun Marsh arrives this week to plug one of those gaps, but there will be a strong Welsh flavour to the side Croft names on Friday.
He wants a reconnect with the Welsh public and a more dogged style to help harness Championship success.
“Over time we’ve had a loss of connection and I’m not saying the players have to be Welsh. Just that we have an influence on them,” he added.
“We are looking at embarking on a different avenue with our red-ball team.
“There will be a different style, which the players are all aware of and comfortable with.
“Over time we believe what we’re starting now will bear fruit over time.
“In white-ball cricket, our attitude will be to compete at the sharp end, but also to improve, because we’ve not cracked it yet. We showed some improvement last year, getting to Finals Day, now we’d like to get a little bit further.
“There’s that inner confidence to the white-ball game. Sides we play against respect us, we’ve taken some big scalps in recent times.”
Croft’s evolution in all formats will be spearheaded by Aneurin Donald, the young Swansea-born batsman tipped to eventually claim England honours.
Donald believes the new style can only benefit the young side.
“If you look back at the last few years, we’ve stagnated in red-ball cricket,” he said.
“It’s not a radical (change) but as a batsman it’s about facing a few more balls and giving yourself a chance.
“We have an attacking line-up, which shows in our successful whiteball form, but as a young batting group it’s about having some direction.
“Everyone has bought into the plan and everyone’s natural game will shine through. It’s just about turning potential into consistent runs.”
The county also announced that wicket-keeper, and new vice captain, Chris Cooke, had signed a three-year contract extension.
Cooke, who topped Glamorgan’s County Championship averages last season, will remain with the county until 2021.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed the past seven years at Glamorgan and I am more than happy to commit my future to the club,” he said.
“We have a good squad and if we can continue to build around the pillars of experience with the promising young Welsh talent coming through our development programme, we will have a bright future ahead.”