Glamorgan Set for Daunting Essex Experience

19 Jun 2015 | Cricket
After recording their third consecutive victory in the LV= County Championship at Guildford yesterday afternoon, buoyant Glamorgan will cross the Thames to Essex aiming to extend another winning run in the NatWest T20 Blast on Friday night.
Essex are famous for creating a hostile atmosphere for visiting teams at their Chelmsford fortress. But after winning their last three Blast games in addition to their superb four-day form, it will hold no fears for Glamorgan as they aim to stay on track for a quarter final place.

It can be a daunting experience on a Friday night, admitted Glamorgan's assistant coach Robert Croft, who has plenty of experience working as a commentator for Sky at Chelmsford in addition to his own playing memories.

They are great supporters of the home team, but rarely applaud the opposition and our job will be to silence them by playing better cricket - indeed we are looking forward to the challenge.

They've got experienced international cricketers. You have Jesse Ryder, one of the most destructive hitters in the game. Ravi Bopara is a top rate one day player, while we all know how James Foster can finish an innings.

Obviously, we will do our homework on them but - to use the old cliché - we need to concentrate on our own game and not worry too much about the opposition.

Essex made a slow start to this year's tournament but shot from bottom to joint top of the South Group with three consecutive wins, including one against Glamorgan in Cardiff.

But Glamorgan's recent performances have also improved since they formed the new batting combination of Jacques Rudolph and Craig Meschede at the top of the order.

It's always an advantage to have a right and left hander opening the innings in one day cricket, added Croft. And Craig's ability to attack from the start has paid dividends.

Meschede's aggressive approach has enabled Rudolph to pace his innings and the captain is currently averaging 75 in the competition with an unbeaten century and two fifties from the six opening games.

Glamorgan's busy schedule continues when they return to Cardiff on Sunday to face the Sussex Sharks. Rudolph has happy memories of their bowling attack after scoring 169 not out against them in the Royal London One-Day Cup last season, the highest by a Glamorgan batsman in List A cricket.

Sussex have been hit by injury problems all season, especially among their fast bowlers, with Ajmal Shahzad likely to be ruled out after aggravating a side injury in their County Championship defeat by Durham at Arundel. But Tymal Mills, the rapid left-arm bowler who was tempted south from Essex during the winter, is still playing T20 cricket despite back problems that have ruled him out for the first-class game for the foreseeable future.

Glamorgan Squad-J. Rudolph (capt), C. Meschede, C. Ingram, C. Cooke, B.Wright, M. Wallace, G. Wagg, W. Parnell ,D. Cosker, D. Lloyd, M.Hogan, A.Salter Glamorgan v Sussex Sharks; Ticket Information
Tickets can be purchased online and via our ticket hotline (02920 419 311).

Glamorgan NatWest T20 Blast fixtures at The SSE SWALEC
Buy in advance and save
V Sussex - Sunday 21 June 2.30pm BUY TICKETS
V Surrey - Friday 26 June 6.30pm BUY TICKETS
V Gloucestershire - Friday 24 July 6.30pm BUY TICKETS

Ticket Prices
Adults - £15 (in advance) £25 (on the day) £60 (season ticket)
Students - £10 (in advance) £15 (on the day)
Under 16s - £5 (in advance) £5 (on the day) £10 (season ticket)
Family (2+2) - £35 (in advance)
Groups (10+) £12 per ticket (in advance)

Want the best seats in the house? Call 02920 419 315 for hospitality or click here to register your interest.