Toby Radford: Glamorgan coach defends Murray Goodwin omission

Zimbabwean Murray Goodwin retired from international cricket in 2000

Glamorgan head coach Toby Radford says he did not act alone in deciding to drop batsman Murray Goodwin.

Retiring 41-year-old Goodwin said being dropped from the first team made the summer of 2014 "probably the lowest point" of his career.

But Radford says a four-man selection panel felt a spell in the second team would benefit the Zimbabwean.

"Four men sit all the time and we always pick a squad from that," said Radford.

"On the day the final side is decided between captain and coach."

Goodwin, who spent 12 years at Sussex, had a successful first season with Glamorgan in 2013, averaging 56 with the bat.

But in 2014 he was dropped from the county's Championship side after five games and featured in only eight four-day matches this season.

Toby Radford (centre) succeeded Matthew Mott as Glamorgan coach

Goodwin has now decided to retire from first-class cricket to spend more time with his family in Australia.

"Murray was dropped earlier in the season because he was struggling for form, "said Radford.

"We all know Murray last year, and many years gone by at Sussex, scored thousands of runs.

"But this year it was felt by the selection panel - and there's four men that sit on that panel - it was time to put him into the second team to get some practice and some form and confidence.

"Actually Murray did just that. He got some runs in the second team, he then came back into the first team and started scoring runs in the 50 over competition.

"It actually worked."

Radford is one of four men on the selection panel along with director of cricket and chief executive Hugh Morris as well as captain Mark Wallace and vice-captain Jim Allenby.

Radford's first season in charge since succeeding Matthew Mott ended in defeat as Glamorgan were beaten by Hampshire in their final County Championship game.

Hampshire secured the Division Two title with a 291-run victory at the Swalec Stadium as the Welsh county ended a disappointing Championship season on a losing note.

"It was a very disappointing end to the season," Radford said.

"In Championship cricket we've been knocked over too easily."