Cooke, Taylor set to make first-class debuts for Glam

HEAD coach Matt Maynard has named a 13-man squad for Glamorgan’s Bob Willis Trophy match against Northants at The County Ground starting today.

There are two changes to the squad which secured a hard-fought draw against Gloucestershire earlier this week with Michael Hogan returning after being rested and all-rounder Joe Cooke included.

Both Cooke and batsman Callum Taylor will make their first-class debuts for the club if selected in the final XI.

Glamorgan currently sit in fifth place in the Central Group, nine points ahead of Northants with both teams looking to secure their first victory of the competition.

Twenty-two-year old Taylor has been included in each of Glamorgan’s Bob Willis Trophy squads this season without playing but is excited at the prospect of making his first-class debut this weekend.

“It would mean the world to make my debut against Northants,” said Taylor.

“I’ve been working hard to get where I am right now and it’s an exciting time for me and my family.

If selected, Taylor believes he will slot in the middle order and could bowl some off-spin on a ground which is known to be conducive for spin bowlers and where Kiran Carlson famously took five for 28 on his first-class debut in 2016.

“I think I’ll probably bat in the middle order and maybe bowl some part-time off-spin.

“Depending on the make-up of the team I may bowl a little bit more, especially if it does spin which it can do there.

“Kiran [Carlson] took five wickers on his debut a few years back so hopefully I can live up to his expectations if I’m called upon.”

Glamorgan (from): Selman, J Cooke, Carlson, Root, C Cooke (capt, wk), Taylor, Cullen, Douthwaite, Wagg, Bull, van der Gugten, de Lange, Hogan.