Glamorgan looking to regroup ahead of Worcestershire clash

10 Apr 2017 | Cricket
Head coach Robert Croft says his team will not lack for effort as they attempt to recover from a two-day defeat at Northamptonshire in their opening Championship match of 2017.

"It wasn't the performance we'd hoped for. It was disappointing in a number of areas, I won't lie," Croft said. "But the will is there and the effort will be put in this week ahead of the next match."

The Welsh county were beaten by an innings and 22 runs as they slumped to a third consecutive loss in matches against Northants.

"I'm trying to balance out (my assessment), but I am very disappointed. The preparation you put into the game, you don't envisage the result at the end of it.

"What I and the players will be looking to put right is to rebuild the confidence, and ensure there's full commitment to a better performance.

"We've got a week of preparation where we'll be doing all we can to ensure a much-improved performance."

Glamorgan were without Timm van der Gugten, Michael Hogan, Graham Wagg, Will Bragg and Ruaidhri Smith through injury, while David Lloyd wasn't able to bowl because of a hamstring problem.

Number three batsman Bragg, Glamorgan's top run-scorer in the 2016 Championship, is scheduled to play a second team game at Northampton after back trouble, to see if he is in with a chance of playing Worcestershire.

"It's in his best interest, he hasn't played any cricket for a long period so just to get back into the middle and see if his back flares up," said captain Jacques Rudolph. "He was one of our best batters last year."

Glamorgan’s next match is against Worcestershire in Cardiff on Friday, 14 April.

Worcestershire will be without England all-rounder Moeen Ali, who is rested from their opening game on ECB instructions.

"They've got a pretty decent batting line-up as it is, and (Joe) Leach has done well for them with the ball, they're going to be a competitive team to play against," added Rudolph.

"But after this loss, it's important to work on what we can and not focus too much on the opposition."