Craig Meschede: Glamorgan new boy hoping to make impression

Craig Meschede made just five County Championship appearances in 2014 because of injury.

Glamorgan new recruit Craig Meschede hopes he will make an all-round contribution this season after joining on loan from Somerset.

Meschede saw last season wrecked by injury and underwent a shoulder operation in October.

But the 23-year-old does not want to be seen as a direct replacement for Jim Allenby, who has joined Somerset.

"I know Glamorgan have been interested in me over the last couple of years and I'm excited to be on board," he said.

"I don't think I'm a direct replacement for Jim Allenby, it's more coincidence.

"Jim's a different player, he's done very well for Glamorgan so it's going to be difficult to fill his boots but I'll do my best although I don't think it's a direct swap."

The son of a German-born father, Meschede was born in Johannesburg but learnt his cricket at King's College in Taunton, where he was a member of the same school team as England wicket-keeper Jos Buttler.

Meschede was back in South Africa recovering from his operation when he got the call from former Glamorgan coach, now Somerset director of cricket Matthew Maynard, to tell him about the chance of a year-long loan spell at the Swalec Stadium.

"I was excited because it's a new team, a new environment and an opportunity to develop my skills, and to become a better, stronger person," Meschede said.

Jim Allenby has moved in the opposite direction to Meschede, joining Somerset

"Hopefully I'll be batting six or seven in all formats and bowling first change.

"My stats would probably say I'm better at a one-day format but over the last year or so I've tailored my game to suit a four-day format. I like to be Jack of all trades."

Meschede announced his arrival in first-class cricket in 2011 by claiming Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar as his first wicket,

He also made an impression on Glamorgan that year by slamming 53 off 28 balls to win a T20 encounter at Taunton, the sort of performance that Glamorgan head coach Toby Radford is hoping he will replicate this year.

"He's a very attacking batter and bowls a heavy medium-pace ball.," Radford said.

"The hope is he goes well, loves it here and says at the end of the season, 'I'd love to be here on a longer term contract'."

Meschede himself is not committing himself to the Welsh county quite yet.

"The plan is to score as many runs and take as many wickets as possible and at the end of the season we'll re-assess," he said.