Head coach Matt Maynard has named a 14-man squad for Glamorgan’s opening Vitality Blast match of the campaign against Worcestershire Rapids tomorrow at Sophia Gardens.
As with the Bob Willis Trophy, the competition has been regionalised with the Welsh county placed in the Central Group alongside local rivals Somerset and Gloucestershire, as well as Worcestershire Rapids, Northants and Birmingham Bears.
Andrew Salter, Prem Sisodiya and Owen Morgan all feature in a Glamorgan squad for the first time this season, as does new overseas signing Andrew Balbirnie who is set to make his Glamorgan debut.
Marchant de Lange and Callum Taylor are also included in the squad following their heroic centuries in the loss to Northants earlier this week in the Bob Willis Trophy.
All-rounder Salter has been ‘frustrated’ by the lack of game time this year with no second team cricket and failing to make the recent Bob Willis Trophy squads, however he is relishing the opportunity to play in the Blast after training hard over the last few weeks.
“It’s nice to get some cricket so I’m really looking forward to tomorrow against Worcestershire Rapids,” said Salter.
“There’s been a lot of hard yards on the practice field the last couple of weeks but it’s always frustrating and disappointing to miss out on squad selection, so it’s about putting in the hours and putting in the overs to make sure I am ready when selected and I’m raring to go now.
Salter topped the club’s wicket-taking charts last season with 14 dismissals but says the wickets came about due to the pressure built from dot balls and is a strategy the side will look to continue this year.
“Wickets and economy rate usually come hand in hand and the more pressure you build with dots, the wickets and chances tend to come and especially in the middle overs when I’m usually required.
“As an outfit we need to keep it tight, build the pressure and then the wickets will hopefully come.”
Salter is friendly with new signing Andrew Balbirnie having both come through Cardiff MCCU at the same time and believes he will fit in well in these familiar surroundings and carry on his recent good form.
"We spent quite a lot of time together post on and off the pitch. Andrew is a good lad and I caught up with him this morning and I'm sure he'll feel at home in Cardiff like he did throughout his time here at University.
"He's come off some good form against England and will bring confidence and some momentum which T20 is all about."
