Head coach Matt Maynard has picked a 14-man squad for Glamorgan’s opening LV= County Championship match of the season against Durham at Sophia Gardens tomorrow.
Opening batsman David Lloyd will lead the side for the first time as Club captain after taking over the reins from Chris Cooke over the winter. He will open the batting with all-rounder Andrew Salter who has been promoted up the order.
Kiran Carlson is vice-captain and enters the fixture on the back of a magnificent 148 against Cardiff UCCE earlier this week. He is one of only four players who featured against the students; the others were Tom Cullen, Dan Douthwaite and Callum Taylor.
Batter Sam Northeast is set to make his competitive debut for the Club after signing from Hampshire last year, while James Harris could make his official return as a fully contracted Glamorgan player after re-joining from Middlesex.
Colin Ingram and Michael Neser are the two overseas players named in the squad. Neser is included having arrived from Australia last week and is making his way back to full fitness after a side strain that kept him out of Australia’s tour of Pakistan last month.
Veteran seamer Michael Hogan enters his final year with the Club after he announced he will retire at the end of the season.
View from the camp – Andrew Salter
“Pre-season has gone really well well. We were very fortunate to have some good weather recently, so we have had some good practice in some good warm-up games. We are just itching to get out there now.
“There is a lot of excitement around the camp, and a few nerves. It does fall down to looking forward to this first outing and just getting stuck into another exciting year.”
“We have had quite a lot of conversations around what we are aspiring to do. Both Lloydy and Kiran have spoken about how they are looking for promotion etc. What is really important for all of us is that we just get stuck in, know what we do well, stick to the process and hopefully, the results will look after themselves.
“I started at three in Taunton, and we were blessed with some great weather and a decent batting deck. It was nice to spend some time out there, and I always enjoy being chucked up the order. I have done it a couple of times at three now, so to crack on and do that again and hopefully get selected to face the new ball, would be a great opportunity and a great challenge in April.
“We have played Durham a couple of times now, and we have had good and bad performances against them so we know what to expect. What is really important is that we just start the season fresh and take the challenge head on.”
Head-to-head – Glamorgan v Durham
This will be Durham’s first visit to the Cardiff ground since August 2018 when they completed an innings victory inside three days after a return of 5-28 by Chris Rushworth saw Glamorgan – led by Michael Hogan – dismissed in their second innings for 111.
Durham also beat Glamorgan by an innings last summer at Chester-le-Street, with the Welsh county’s most recent victory in a four-day contest between the two teams coming at Swansea in 2017 after an enterprising declaration by Paul Collingwood set Glamorgan a target of 266 from 51 overs on the final afternoon. Despite the loss of early wickets, a watchful century by Nick Selman saw Glamorgan to a three-wicket victory.
To view previous results between the two sides, click HERE.
How to watch/listen:
Tickets for this fixture are on sale now and available to buy HERE.
The match will be livestreamed on the Glamorgan website. Production will include a manned camera, replays, highlights, scorecards, and commentary from the BBC Sport Wales team.
The fixture will also be covered on the club’s social media channels with team news, match updates and player and coach reactions.
MATCH INFORMATION
MATCH TIMINGS:
GATES OPEN – 10am
MORNING SESSION – 11am-1pm
LUNCH – 1pm-1.40pm
AFTERNOON SESSION – 1.40pm-3.40pm
TEA – 3.40pm-4pm
EVENING SESSION – 4pm-6pm
*times subject to change
ENTRY
Entry to the ground will be via Gate 5.
SEATING
Due to ongoing maintenance work, the Grandstand and Castell Howell Stand will be out of operation for this fixture.
Members and supporters will be able to watch the match from the SA Group Stand, Members’ Stand or Thatchers Pavilion.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
Covid-19 restrictions inside the venue have been lifted and we have returned to unallocated seating this season.
Please rest assured that despite the easing of restrictions, the safety of our members and supporters remains of primary importance and we continue to implement thorough cleaning procedures and good hygiene practise at the stadium.
We ask that members and supporters remain considerate and respectful whilst at the venue and remember that others may have ongoing health challenges that may affect them or their close families.
Maintain sensible distancing where possible and do not come on site if you have symptoms or if you have tested positive.
CATERING
The Lewis Lounge will be open to Glamorgan Members and can be found on the 2nd floor of the National Cricket Centre.
Tea and Coffee service will also resume for Members in the lounge from 10am to 11am in the morning and from 3:30pm to 4:30pm in the afternoon.
Kiosk 4 underneath the Thatchers Cider Pavilion will be open to the general public, where tea and coffees, snacks and sandwiches will be available.
Dinky Donuts will also be on site.
CLUB SHOP
The Official Club shop will be open for all four days, 10-5pm.
Our brand new 2022 shirts are available in-store and also on the Masuri website: https://teamwear.nxt-sports.com/shop/glamorgan-cricket
2022 yearbooks are also available to purchase from the shop or online. More info here: https://glamorgancricket.com/news/2022-yearbooks-now-on-sale
To access the shop you will need to leave the stadium and enter via Gate 2.