We've been working hard across the winter with every player having individual fitness programmes and technical and tactical programmes which we've carried out as a system of coaches
The rest of the preparations are pretty much as it was, there's no rocket science instrument, just a lot of hard graft, from players and coaches and whereas you look at cricket and other sports around the world and everyone is looking for the magic touch and you tend to find the best teams out there do the basics very well indeed and that's an approach we intend to carry out this season.
At times last year I felt we underperformed how we can play there is more talent in the team than we showed on the field, but we've been saying that for a few years, and the players have been saying that its not just the management saying that.
In four day cricket, First Division cricket is where you want to be if you want to be a top top player and there 's a lot of those players in our dressing room. Also as a coach that's where you want to be pitting your wits and your team against, so that's what it's about and we want to continue improving and not just to say we were a flash in the pan Lord's finalist, but we want to be considered and respected by other teams as being better than just a banana skin team, but a side that when you turn up at the ground you are in for a scrap against Glamorgan.
There were two areas that stood out for us last year to improve upon. 1. We didn't get enough runs at the top of the order and that gives your middle order players the license to play positively and score freely, putting more time back into the game, so that was one area and 2. We didn't finish sides off in the second innings when we did have that opportunity to do so. A heck of a lot of weight was on Michael Hogan's shoulders last season and he got us into match winning situations through his first innings efforts but come the second innings he needed more support
To top and tail it that would be it, but there are other areas to improve on and if everyone raises their game x % that will make a difference as well.
Jacques Rudolph has had experience away in South Africa but also he has had experience in this country so he is not coming in fresh in terms of being new and not knowing what to expect, he's aware of what to expect playing cricket in this country.
Also from sources he's a very likeable man so he is an excellent example of what you want from an overseas player, yes you want their runs at the top, and that is pretty much paramount, but also you want that example and a trustworthy character in the dressing room where your other players can learn off as well, so its more than just the runs for an overseas player, but the runs are really important as well
Robert Croft will be hosting the Cardiff roadshow at the SWALEC Stadium for Glamorgan supporters and Welsh cricket club representatives to attend and the final two roadshows will be at Mold CC and Bangor CC next week on the 26 and 27 March respectively. All events are free to attend with Cricket Wales' Peter Hybart plus Hugh Morris Glamorgan Chief Executive along with players and coaches in attendance.