Glamorgan have recalled Craig Meschede from injury and retained promising youngster Kiran Carlson in a 13-man squad for their Specsavers County Championship clash against Gloucestershire at The SSE SWALEC, starting tomorrow (10.30am).
The Welsh county will be seeking revenge after their dramatic fourth-day defeat against Gloucestershire in the Championship at Bristol earlier in the season.
For quick bowler Michael Hogan, whose Championship best of 7/92 came against Gloucestershire in 2013, the remainder of the season represents a chance to improve on an inconsistent campaign for Glamorgan in four-day cricket.
Carlson, 18, joins fellow homegrown talents Ruaidhri Smith, Aneurin Donald, David Lloyd and Owen Morgan in the squad and Hogan is keen to see the Glamorgan youngsters continue to thrive.
He said: “We’ve included a couple of younger guys in the squad in the last few games and they’ve performed well, so it’s a chance for those guys to shine and show the management what they’ve got. But it’s also a chance for the team to put on a good show for the people who are coming to watch.”
Glamorgan have won two, drawn five and lost six in the Championship this season and Hogan has called for a more successful and consistent finish to the season for the Welsh county.
He added: “We’ve shown glimpses of quality cricket and then the next week we haven’t turned up. It’s frustrating and probably a reflection of the inconsistencies in the squad. Guys like myself haven’t been on song enough of the time.”
Gloucestershire will be without their captain and talisman Michael Klinger for the match after he flew home to Australia for the birth of his child.
And Hogan wants to capitalise on the weakened visitors, without his fellow countryman. The 35-year-old paceman is also eyeing revenge for that 125-run defeat at the Brightside Ground in May.
Hogan added: “ He( Klinger) is obviously a very good player and it’s not too disappointing to see him go home.
“But they’re obviously a good side and we’ve got a point to prove after that last-day performance in Bristol (in May). We played good cricket for three days there and then shot ourselves in the foot on the last day, so we’ll be up for the challenge.”
Glamorgan 13-man squad: Jacques Rudolph (capt.), Nick Selman, Will Bragg, David Lloyd, Aneurin Donald, Kiran Carlson, Graham Wagg, Craig Meschede, Mark Wallace, Owen Morgan, Timm van der Gugten, Michael Hogan, Ruaidhri Smith.
Gloucestershire 13-man squad: Gareth Roderick (capt.), Chris Dent, Will Tavare, George Hankins, Hamish Marshall, Phil Mustard, Jack Taylor, Craig Miles, David Payne, Liam Norwell, Josh Shaw, Matt Taylor, Tom Smith.