James Kettleborough set for Glam debut in friendly v Gloucestershire

James Kettleborough has joined Glamorgan from Northants on a two-year contract

Glamorgan begin their pre-season campaign with their earliest ever match in the UK as they face Gloucestershire in a two-day friendly at the Swalec Stadium on Tuesday.

Head coach Toby Radford is calling for a "massive improvement" in the county's championship form this season.

The county have lost key all-rounder Jim Allenby to Somerset.

"It is a smaller squad, but it'll be a strong squad and I think a very competitive squad," Radford said.

Glamorgan won only three of their 16 Division Two matches last season, and finished second from bottom.

The game has been put back by 24 hours to Tuesday and Wednesday because of poor weather forecast and already damp conditions.

Last year's captain Mark Wallace will lead the side, with his successor Jacques Rudolph still in South Africa.

Glamorgan will give debuts to three players - opening batsman James Kettleborough, signed from Northants, all-rounder Craig Meschede on a year's loan from Somerset, and teenage Welsh pace bowler Jack Murphy.

But the county will be without South African batsmen Rudolph and Colin Ingram, and Australian fast bowler Michael Hogan, for most of the warm-up games.

Teenage batsman Aneurin Donald is on England under-19's duty in Australia until late April.

"I think it's the case with most county sides, nearly every county side has got players who come in from South Africa and Australia close to April time" Radford told BBC Wales Sport.

"You have a home-grown squad here all the time through the winter so you work with them and you know there are going to be 3 or 4 additions just before the first big game."

Glamorgan also have games against Somerset and Cardiff MCCU before beginning their championship season at Leicester on April 12th.

Glamorgan squad: Kettleborough, Bragg, Wright, Cooke, Lloyd, Wallace (capt), Wagg, Meschede, Smith, Murphy, Cosker, Owen.