Hogan back in the ranks as Ingram seeks lift-off
IT’S a welcome change of pace for Glamorgan as they prepare to launch their Royal London OneDay Cup campaign at home to Gloucestershire today (11am).
After a mixed start to the campaign, the 50-over format will see the Welsh county also change captain, with Michael Hogan stepping back into the ranks to make way for whiteball specialist Colin Ingram to lead the team.
With head coach Robert Croft identifying a white-ball trophy as a realistic aim for Glamorgan this season – as the County Championship proves a breeding ground for homegrown talent – South African international batsman Ingram touches down in south Wales after a successful winter playing white-ball cricket around the world.
Ingram’s jet-setting six months saw him win Australia’s Big Bash with the Adelaide Strikers and feature in the Pakistan Super League in the United Arab Emirates.
“It was a bit of a different winter for me,” said Ingram on his return to Cardiff.
“It was a great experience (winning the BBL), it still hasn’t really sunk in, but I played with a great group of guys playing good cricket through the tournament, so I learned a lot there. Hopefully I can bring some of that experience back with me.”
Ingram has been Glamorgan’s most consistent and effective player in white-ball cricket since joining the county in 2015.
In last season’s One-Day Cup, the 32-year-old bludgeoned 564 runs at an average of more than 70, including three sensational centuries. He also snared seven useful wickets with his leg-spin.
But as a team, Glamorgan fell short of the knockout stages despite beginning with a with victory over Gloucestershire in Cardiff.
Against the same opposition at Sophia Gardens in 2018, Ingram is keen to start his captaincy rain with a win.
“After having a couple of really good seasons for Glamorgan, the challenge for me is to come and back that up again,” he added.
“I suppose that’s what excites me about the challenge ahead for this season, just to perform to that standard again.”
Winning a white-ball competition would end a spell of 14 years without silverware for the Welsh county, with Ingram keen to call upon previous captaincy experience with the Warriors in South Africa to inspire Glamorgan glory.
After missing out agonisingly in the T20 knockout stages in recent seasons, he knows his side are getting closer.
“If we carry on putting ourselves in good positions and play the right brand of cricket, at some stage (winning a trophy) is going to happen,” added Ingram.
“I’m a competitive guy, I like to find ways to win games and just keep it simple to manage the mood in the camp.
“The way we are in the camp, that mood and those energy levels, they unlock your skills, so it’s my job to make sure the guys are in a good space.
Tactically there could be a few differences, but in general we’ve had good things going here (in white ball cricket) so I just want to add to that.
Glamorgan: (from) Ingram (c), Lloyd, Carey, Selman, Cullen, Murphy, Hogan, Marsh, Wagg, Salter, de Lange, Van der Gugten, Cooke.