Glamorgan return to Specsavers County Championship action against Sussex tomorrow with Head Coach Robert Croft naming a 12-man squad for the north Wales contest at Rhos-on-Sea.
With the Welsh County reaching NatWest T20 Blast Finals Day (Saturday, 2nd September), a number of players have been rested for the journey north presenting an opportunity for younger players to make their mark.
In total, eight players who have gone through the Glamorgan Academy have been selected within the squad, including Connor Brown and Jack Murphy who have yet to make their debuts for Glamorgan, but have impressed for the second team.
Ruaidhri Smith also returns to the squad, while wicketkeeper Tom Cullen will make his second appearance for the Welsh county after debuting for Glamorgan against Durham earlier in the year.
Glamorgan have not played in the Specsavers County Championship since early July and batsman Aneurin Donald says the team needs to adapt quickly to the red ball if they are to defeat a strong Sussex team.
“Obviously the ball moves for a lot longer than the white kookaburra does,” said Donald.
"It’s about getting into the zone and separating your white-ball game from your red-ball game but the boys are obviously excited to get stuck back in.
“The basics never change but there are certain things you reign back and you have to make some different decisions but there are plenty of our guys who have played enough Specsavers County Championship cricket to know what they are about and can switch back quite quickly.”
“Sussex are pretty strong all round and they have a decent bowling attack with Joffra Archer going well this year and they have plenty of strength in depth.
“We’re aware what they come with but we’ve played against them a few times and we always fancy ourselves up north. We played really well last year at Colwyn Bay to get a win and hopefully we can do the same again.”
Donald has fond memories of the playing at Penrhyn Avenue after scoring a record equalling 234 runs from just 136 balls last year as Glamorgan beat Derbyshire by four wickets and he is relishing the opportunity to bat at the Rhos-on-Sea ground again.
“I’m looking forward to having a bat on it. It’s famous for being a good wicket with quite small boundaries so the batters are particularly excited.
“Colwyn Bay is a great place to go; there’s always a good turnout and a good crowd so hopefully it will be a good week for Glammy.”
The young batsman also believes the match will be a good opportunity for players to force their way into the side with the retirement of Jacques Rudolph at the end of the season and Colin Ingram focussing on white-ball cricket for Glamorgan for the next two years.
“I know a couple of guys are retiring and moving on next year so there is a chance for other guys to stick their hands up, myself included to try and nail down a spot and turn into one of the senior players in our batting group.
“It’s an exciting time with a different vibe to our T20. It’s about rebuilding and trying to get some good results on the board and there’s no reason why we can’t start at Colwyn Bay.”
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Prices per day:
Adult £15
Student £10
Under 17s £3
Glamorgan squad to face Sussex at Colwyn Bay: Selman, Morgan, Murphy, Donald, Carlson, Salter, Brown, Meschede, Cullen, Smith, Carey, Hogan (c)