Things can only get better
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Revolving door
Little activity until the exit door
was given rather a shove during
the space of five days in March.
Both Glamorgan's planned
overseas players Mike Kasprowicz
(international commitments) and
then Matthew Elliott (knee injury)
pulled out. Glamorgan quickly
tried to replace them, signing the
up-and-coming South Australian
opener Mark Cosgrove and
negotiating with the New Zealand
left-arm swing bowler James
Franklin. Nicky Peng has moved
from Durham to replace Jonathan
Hughes, who was released at the
end of last season.
Winter wonderland
The chairman Paul Russell's
ambition for Test cricket at
Sophia Gardens continued to
burn in the close season but he
encountered planning problems.
Russell wants to create a 15,000-
capacity all-seater venue, at a
cost of around £7m, which he
believes will compare favourably
with England's six traditional Test
grounds, as well as the Riverside
and the Rose Bowl.
Strengths
Always a handful with the white
ball and Cosgrove - newly named
Australia's one-day player of the
year - could serve them well in
the shorter game.
Weaknesses
Failure to score enough first innings
runs in last year's
Championship left them bottom
of Division One, losing 14 of their
16 games.
Best-case scenario
A Lord's final in the C&G and
promotion in the Championship
will be the main objectives as
Glamorgan look to make up for a
dismal 2005.
Worst-case scenario
Missing out on promotion and
failing to challenge in at least two
of the one-day competitions would
be seen as a poor campaign.
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Mark Cosgrove. He is not 22 until June but is already being tipped by his South Australia captain Darren Lehmann as a key component in Australia's 2007 World Cup side. Peng, still only 23, could also realise his potential at last.
Key man
Robert Croft. As captain,
allrounder and senior professional
he has become a crucial component
in Glamorgan's endeavours. Had a
difficult season in 2005 but has the
character, and the commodities at
his disposal, to bounce back.
What they say
"There is no getting away from
the fact we suffered a number
of bad experiences in 2005," says
Croft, "but hopefully out of such
depression comes maturity.''
Mark Wagh
Simon Jones needs to provide
a real boost to eradicate
memories of last season. The batting
looks in need of overseas assistance,
with David Hemp and Michael Powell
providing homegrown quality. All of
the bowlers need to produce more
wickets but it could all come down to
how they start.
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This article was first published in the May issue of The Wisden Cricketer.
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