Glamorgan, champions of Wales

[cde]

2024 Season Review

An excellent season winning the triple for the second time in three years and with players who have been on the fringes of the side given opportunities whether first-choice players are available or not. The main area of concern is the middle order. In the FC and T20 sides there are a few choices but when we get to the OD matches we lost 5 middle order batsmen to the CompostToilet 100. It is getting to the point where at least one promising batsman will probably be let go if his wage demand increases. There are now a four players who have played far more international LO matches than they have in the domestic competitions, especially in the 50 over format.

County Championship

Position: 1st
P14. W11. L1.. D2. Batting 27. Bowling 37. 250 points

A great year with another championship under the belt. At the start of the season two things were resolved upon – 1. Leg-spinner Remington will play all the matches so I know if he is ready for taking over the main spinner’s role after Wadlan’s retirement. 2. One of our two average aggression middle-order batsmen will play all season even when our big performing players are available to both build experience and winnow out which of them should stay.

Despite winning our first six matches the first half of the FC season saw the batting struggle. With international opener Gill away and our three first-choice middle order batsmen also in the IPL we were relying on young players coming good. One of our middle order prospects did but neither of our young openers could do well while the experienced Porter averaged 32 when opening but 40 at 3. Any foray above two bars aggression saw a wicket fall immediately. It should be noted that half of our 3 opening victories went right down to the wire, winning two by just one wicket and another by 23 runs. The resolution to play Remington over Wadlan cane under pressure immediately with Hudson-Prentice having an awful start to the season and forcing us into fielding a four man bowling attack despite big reserves of seam bowlers and a spinning all-rounder. In the end the four man attack of Todd, Foyle, van der Gugten and Remington proved potent, though Remington had a big dip in form.

The big turning point was a match against Warwickshire after the OD tournament when asked to bowl first on a flat pitch. They posted 456 only for us to smash 726-7 declared at a shade under a run a ball to force the game to a result. After this batting display we really kicked on and with Todd in poor form after the UsedNappy 100 we gave young LF bowler Arkwright a chance, which he duly took with both hands. Of the two middle order batsmen Pears has pushed out Tully quite comfortably – but both were in the Wretched 100 so one has to go so we can have more choice for the OD team.

The dilemma comes around again – we need both a reliable opener and an all-rounder – but will we find either on the domestic market?


Challenge Trophy

Position: Semi-finalist
P11. W9. L2.

A good campaign, even if we had to play a quarter-final for the first time in a few seasons. The bowling was as strong as every but the batting so weakened there were few options. Warner, a player being kept on as a good OD no3 and FC and T20 batsman of last resort was injured throughout so was of little use at all this season. Still no all-rounder so once we were 4 down we were in trouble. The presence of the CowPat 100 has meant that we now have 4 players who have played more international OD than domestic matches – and by a long way. Between them three batsman – Jenkins, Beasley and Waites and bowler Todd have played 20 domestic OD matches but a massive 115 IOD matches. It is just as well the AnalGland100 weakens every team as whoever we put out next year to bat is bound to be just as weak as this year.


T20 Cup

Position: Winners
P17. W13. L4. NR 1

With a settled and effective bowling unit and (call-ups not withstanding) being able to call on good quality batsmen the T20s are posing little challenge. Our four losses were close and while our top batsmen were playing for the national side. Waites is now the best rated T20 batsman in the world, averaging 58 this year and 43 the year before.


There are now players who can be released – they might go on to do well but are getting picked up by the SepticBoil 100 and I can’t keep taking on more and more players as back-up for established squad members and then lose them for the entire competition they are principally needed for. Of the two players given a run this year Pears has done enough to be a first choice batsman - if it wasn’t for those we already have - but Remington is a 30-something leg spinner so I will have to find a better spinner.

For next season a better all-round international might be brought in to bolster the bowing attack.

Having won all three tournaments we will have plenty to spend for next season. But the squad is now numbering in the mid-30s and it feels bloated and unwieldy.

[cde]

You can see it coming, can’t you?

Despite the attempt to create a ‘final’ in test cricket there are two formats in which there are big global tournaments - the type that broadcast the game to a far wider audience- and the ECB have decided to essentially downgrade the domestic competition in one of those formats to start a whole new format that no one else plays.

I have honestly considered switching back to CC19 just so I don’t have to have even a virtual 100 in my life.

[Lynx54321]

Perhaps the game could an event where after an all too predictable bomb out of the 50 over world cup the ECB decide they need to prioritise the 50 game again...

[cde]

A Morris Ital - the 100 in vehicle form.

[cde]

It seems like one of those awful cars British Leyland used to make. Everyone knows it’s a fundamentally flawed product trying to relive the glory days and reach a market segment that the company dominated until a few years back but now simply creates two problems for each one it solves. Even those in control know it’s flaws but are so committed it proves impossible to pull out of, even if that would be the best for everyone.

i would dearly love to get four seasons in to this game to get a message that reads “The 100 has been abandoned”!

[Lynx54321]

The Hundred really is crap isn't it.

[cde]

2023 Season Review


A slightly disappointing season after last year’s heights but we met our minimum expectations in two competitions and won the third. The minimum I wanted to achieve was to reach both limited overs semi-finals and finish in the top three of the County Championship. We finished 3rd in the County Championship,, were knocked out in the semi-final of the Challenge Trophy and won the T20 Cup.


County Championship

Position: 3rd
P14. W8. L2. D4. Batting 28. Bowling 40. 216 points

Well behind 1st placed Sussex on 240 and Surrey on 237 but well ahead of Warwickshire on 193. Our wins were all convincing but out two losses – against both teams above us – were comprehensive. The turning point came at the mid-point of the season with back-to-back (all be it with the OD competition in the middle) matches against Surrey. Leading by a good margin we needed to win both to be in with a shout of the title and while we won the first at a canter we lost the second and our hopes of retaining the title. Two of our draws were matches that we could easily have lost and one other a match we could easily have won.

We struggled with our batting throughout the season and after our quick bowlers returned from the CowPat 100 their form was pretty much shot, scuppering the chances of a strong finish. Selman and Porter especially struggled at the start of the season when Gill was in the IPL and I had signed South African OS all-rounder Tian Koekemoer instead of another opener as reserve. Harrington did better than last year. Part of our trouble was that our trio of middle order first-choice batsmen – Jenkins, Beasley and Waites spent most of their time in either the IPL or with England with the remaining, inexperienced, batsmen sliding in and out of form. Winter signing Jos Butter was replaced by Nethercott who proved to be a very effective at rear-guard actions after the batting had collapsed. Returning from the SlagHeap 100 Todd and Foyle were in appalling form with Sanderson and van der Gugten quickly joining them. First choice back-ups Hudson-Prentice and Mills were no better so we ended up fielding de Lange and Kennedy with a couple of young signings. They did well enough but the matches were tight. The main issues is, again, the spin department with Wadlan’s modest averages and impending retirement an issue with Remington making a weak case for being considered our first-choice spinner.


Challenge Trophy

Position: Semi-finalist
P9. W6. L2. T1

A good campaign despite collapsing hilariously while chasing a very low target in the first match. A couple of reshuffles later and we didn’t look back. Warner has found his home as a OD no3 batsman while Tully and new signing Nathan Pears did well at 4&5. The bowers slipped in and out of form a little but the batsmen made up for it.

Knocked out by Winners Northamptonshire, losing by just 2 runs, a failure of captaincy. The pitch had a little bit of bounce and the forecast was overcast. Taking a risk in bowling first when the pitch was so flat we took a couple of quick wickets before the sun came out and they settled in to put up a decent total of 288-8. We headed well enough but were 8 down and unable to get those couple more runs for the win.

On a separate thought players like Warner may become a fixture of cricket if the LitterTray 100 and Challenge Trophy continue to coincide. Not quite good enough to force a regular place in the FC and T20 teams he is good enough to play similarly weakened teams in the OD competition. I can see him playing at 3 in OD cricket for many years with just a smattering of FC and T20 appearances and with little or no chance of making the national setup no matter how well he does. If the NettleSoup 100 gets cancelled his is a career that could soon be going nowhere quickly.


T20 Cup

Position: Winners
P17. W12. L5. T1

Players drifting in and out of form, patchy availability and injuries meant a bumpy campaign but the signings of Quinton de Kock and Fahim Ashraf performed well. Hudson-Prentice played a full season and with some improvement in his economy could have a big future. Will stick as close as possible to this team with the hope that we can repeat this year’s triumph.


This year the team has been a churning mass of injuries, call-ups and dips in form. The young players I would like to bring on have come in and out, not taking their chances before one of the established players returns. Next year there needs to be more consistency in selection with players given a longer run to become established and build depth. There needs to be fewer places automatically given over to the established players to help this happen. The likelihood is that this will hurt our performances next season but hopefully the longer term benefits will outweigh a less successful season. The minimum goals are still going to be to finish in the County Championship top three and reach the semi-finals of both Limited over completions.

A sad farewell should be given to Chris Cooke, county stalwart and the captain who led us from division 2 to Champions in three years.

[cde]

Thanks both!

[NishantBagga]

loved it mate! hoping to see more of you in the future.

[Lynx54321]

Enjoyed the story mate cheers!

[cde]

Here ends the longwinded story of how Glamorgan began their decades of dominance in English FC cricket. Maybe.

I was expecting this to take another season at least but fortune has been good and success has come. The lack of really good youth players coming from our ranks is disappointing but Lee and Beard might make solid performers over the years.

While it is hard not to feel pleased with having won the LO trophies so often I am most pleased with the FC results, or more specifically, how few losses we have sustained - just two. A team that can get itself out of trouble is a team that is always in with a chance.

The OD triumphs are also more satisfying than the T20 wins because of the limited choices in player selection, though all have relied on a strong bowling attack.

There are big changes coming to the team with Cooke, Wadlan and Sanderson knocking on the door of retirement. While there is a natural replacement for Sanderson there is not for the other two and this will affect future plans and international signings.

There may be updates from now on but here endeth our tale for now.

[cde]

Season Review

Bowlers


Andrew Todd, 22

FC – 39 wickets at an average of 19.76 and an economy of 2.66 an over, 1 5 in an innings
T20 – 3@ 20.67 & 7.75

Exactly what I need to see, difficult to play and score against and constantly creating chances. The cutting edge we needed to move a well functioning seam attack up another level. The hope is that he will in furniture form the opening partnership with Foyle. Lack of chances in the T20s because of de Lange’s excellence and a shame he missed the OD matches through injury.


Marchant de Lange, 31

OD – 7 @ 12.43 & 4.35
T20 – 34 @ 11.23 & 6.47

Now used as a LO specialist but can still fill in in FC. Excellent when wanted, our best T20 bowler by far.


Ben Sanderson, 33

FC – 59 @ 18.47 & 2.28, 2 5i
OD – 20 @ 16.60 & 4.00, 1 5i
T20- 1 @ 38.00 & 9.50

Thriving in FC cricket and OD matches but oddly awful in T20s. Another year or two like this will be perfect, doing exactly what we signed him for.


Mark Foyle, 20

FC – 62 @ 22.16 & 2.66, 3 5i, 1 10m
OD – 2 @ 43.50 & 4.35
T20 – 14 @ 21.93 & 8.04

Patchy in the LO matches, could go for a load of runs quite easily. Excellent FC year after stepping up to open the bowling. The natural successor to Sanderson when he retires and should become a club stalwart.


Gerald Mills, 23

OD – 16 @ 21.37 & 4.27

His only opportunity was during the OD cup and he nailed it. Will hopefully get more opportunities next season.


Timm van der Gugten, 31

FC batting – 246 runs at and average of 18.42, 1 50

FC – 54 @ 21.59 & 2.78
OD – 14 @ 20.29 & 3.55
T20 – 16 @ 13.87 @ 7.12

Struggled when opening the bowling in FC cricket but was soon taking wickets at first change. Really good opening the bowling in LO matches and an indispensable team leader.


Adam Beard, 21

OD – 17 @ 25.76 & 4.77

Good solid OD performer, may be worth some investment in training.


Lukas Carey, 24

Unused, will let go.


Graham Kennedy, 23

FC – 105 @ 17.50

FC – 18 @ 26.22 & 2.67
T20 – 24 @ 14.67 & 6.38

Offered control and a good wicket taking threat in FC cricket but was pushed out when Todd was given the chance. Great T20 campaign offering great control in the middle overs. Shame he missed so much through playing for Ireland and then couldn’t force his way into the well functioning OD attack.


Kieron Bull, 27

OD – 16 @ 27.60 & 4.68

Who would have know! Him, obviously. A player of whom little was expected and much delivered. Will be staying on.


Steve Remmington, 23

Unused since there were no spinning pitches this year and including him would have necessitated dropping on our seamers, which would have been foolish given we were chasing the title. Hoping to use him in the OD matches but was playing in the Folly 100.


Justin Tipuric, 20

2nd XI – 26.66 @ 3.90
OD – 23.97 @ 5.39
T20 – 25.22 @ 8.93

Not good enough to keep on. Low bowling averages because he leaks so many runs.

[cde]

Season Review

All-rounders


James Faulkner, 31

T20 – 38 runs at an average of 19.00

T20 – 9 wickets at an average of 28.00 and economy of 7.00

Poor but had enough occasionally great games to stick with him. Unsure if he warrants being resigned.


Flyn Hudson-Prentice, 26

FC – 0 @ 0
T20 – 15@ 15

FC – 1 @ 98 & 4.05
T20 – 6 @ 14 & 7.00

Was in awful form through most of the T20s but did well after he improved. Looks like one of those players who will either take a hat full of wickets and / or go for a ton of runs. If he is our first choice all-rounder he has to improve his batting because there will be matches where his bowing is a liability. This would also mean that he could not feature in a 3 man pace attack.


Madushan Ravichandrakumar, 27

T20

T20

Patchy but when he clicked was deadly. Also got taken to all parts.


Brad Wadlan, 34

FC – 500 @ 33.33, 4 50s
T20 – 11 @ 11

FC – 32 @ 32.94 & 3.11
T20 – 6 @ 12.33 & 6.17

A good batting performance in FC cricket but bowing poor. Another great T20 competition. Can’t be long for retirement having reached what could be the peak of a short career. Need to find a better spinner but need an all-rounder too.

[cde]

Season Review

Wicket Keepers


Tom Nethercott, 22

FC – 130 runs @ 65.00, 1 century
OD – 124 @ 17.74
T20 – 144 @ 20.44, 1 50

Needs to improve in the limited overs formats, had a run of awful form in the ODs. Was given the last couple of games of the FC season to see how he went with good batting above him and impressed with a century in trying conditions, even if the groundwork had been laid by others. If there are no other wicket keepers on the market pressing to be included he needs to have a season to see if he can replace Cooke.


Chris Cooke, 36

FC – 515 @ 32.19, 4 50s
OD – 29 @ 29.00
T20 – 244 @ 24.40

A better year in FC cricket, back to his career average but 24.40 from our no5 T20 batsman isn’t enough. If he doesn’t retire will use him more as a reserve next year.


Tom Cullen, 30

OD – 83 @ 20.75
T20 – 22 @ 22.00

Played because there was no one else in reasonable form. Will stay as on.

[cde]

Season Review

Batsmen


Aaron Finch, 35

T20 – 81 runs at an average of 27.00, 1 50

A bonus signing and had a useful few games.


Shubman Gill, 23

FC – 529 @ 66.12, 4 50s and 1 century
OD – 325 @ 65.00, 3 50s
T20 – 628 @ 78.25, 6 50s

The rock upon which our limited overs batting is built upon, without him we would be in the brown stuff. Great opener in all formats and hard not to look to him as our main overseas player again next season.


Jeff Porter, 21

FC – 513 @ 31.94, 4 50s
OD – 52 @ 13
T20 – 269 @ 29.00, 2 50s

Struggled in FC cricket, falling in the high 80s a few times. Was on general technique training before his injury and will continue next year. Has the look of a low 40s averaging player. Solid in the T20s without being indispensable.


Tamim Iqbal, 33

FC – 135 @ 16.88, 1 50
OD – 374 @ 187, 3 100s

Horrific start to the season, so bad we dropped him, but from nowhere smashed three centuries in three OD matches. May be worth re-signing next year.


Harry Harrington, 21

FC – 46 @ 11.5
OD – 118 @ 23.60, 1 50

Very poor first season with us, will need to improve next year.


Nick Selman, 26

FC – 1008 @ 56.00, 6 50s and 2 100s

No LO matches so stayed in top form all season. First name on the sheet and next year’s captain in FC cricket.


Michael Waites, 20

FC – 781 @ 71.00, 7 50s & 1 100
OD – 70 @ 70, 1 50
T20 – 135 @ 67.35, 2 50s

Brilliant when with us and with Beasley at 4 was the powerhouse of an innings. Shame we see so little of him..


Tom Beasley, 22

FC – 902 @ 76.17, 5 50s and 3 hundreds.
OD – 65 @ 32.5
FC – 124 @ 17.71, 1 50

An awesome FC season, hitting hundreds whatever his form. Totally tanked in LO cricket. Need to see a better LO return next year but causes a headache in the middle order, the first selection dilemma based on not wanting to leave someone out.


David Lloyd, 30

OD – 294 @ 42.00, 3 50s
T20s – 56 @ 14.00

Good OD performance, poor In the T20s. A solid player when in form.


David Jenkins, 23

FC – 140 @ 20.00, 1 50
OD – 39 @ 39
T20 – 14 @ 14

A shocking season, hopefully just a blip. Under pressure from Beasley for his place


David Tulley, 21

FC – 68 @ 22.67
OD – 15 @ 15
T20 – 185 @ 20.56

Failed to take opportunities, T20 performance a start at least.


Samson Lee, 19

FC – 1 @ 1
OD – 20 @ 10
T20 – 146 @ 20.33, 1 50

In at three in the T20s when others had failed and did well. Form suffered in his T20 and FC matches, affecting his T20 form. A high flyer or a low flyer lifted on the occasional strong wind? Worth finding out.


Kiran Carlson, 24

Not used, going.


John Warner, 24

FC – 160 @ 26,67, 1 century
OD – 251 @ 36.86, 2 50s

Outside of his FC century he averaged a shocking 9.6. Need to decide where best to place him in the OD team as he takes time to get going and can’t be pushed.

Alun Wynn-Jones, 17

2nd XI – 33.31
OD – 27.79
T20 – 20.59

Extremely young and so has bags of time to improve but his averages are really poor and it is unlikely that even with a few years training he is likely to come to much from such a low base.