Glamorgan plan changes for One Day Cup defence

Glamorgan won the One-Day Cup for the second time in four years beating Somerset by 15 runs in September 2024

Glamorgan's One Day Cup coach David Harrison knows his team could be targets for all their opponents after regaining the trophy in 2024.

"Teams know we've won it twice in the last years and we're one of the better one-day teams, but all teams change due to the Hundred," he said.

Glamorgan ring the changes for the 50-overs campaign despite having only Ben Kellaway and Mason Crane on franchise duty with Welsh Fire.

Key all-rounder Dan Douthwaite got a late call to London Spirit as a temporary replacement for England batter Ollie Pope.

"You'll see a few new faces, which is exciting for the future, but we need to mix that in with some experience for a good spine of the team," Harrison explained.

South Africa batter Colin Ingram is switching to an assistant coach's role, Sri Lanka paceman Asitha Fernando is not contracted for the tournament, Timm van der Gugten has a foot injury, and Championship captain Sam Northeast is expected to miss the opening games after the recent birth of his second child.

"It provides opportunities for other players, and I love the 50-over format," enthused Harrison.

"It's a great test of all parts of your game, physically and mentally, the game can change, the wicket can change.

"I said to Colin at the end of the Lancashire [championship] game, 'welcome on board, coach' and he's got a wealth of knowledge, enjoys his coaching, and sees himself doing that going forward."

David Harrison (left) is Glamorgan's One Day Cup coach, while the Welsh county's head coach Richard Dawson (right) is on Welsh Fire duty

The Hundred franchise tournament, running concurrently with the One Day Cup, means that some counties lose an entire team or more, with Lancashire missing 14 players.

Glamorgan have plenty of batters waiting to come in with Billy Root, Eddie Byrom, Tom Bevan and Will Smale all having featured in the victorious 2024 side, while Alex Horton is set to get the first chance at wicket-keeping duties with Chris Cooke rested, though Smale and Henry Hurle also feature in the first squad.

Left-arm spinner Romano Franco, an 18 year old from north-east Wales, earns a first pro contract for the competition in the absence of Kellaway and Crane.

"We're going to have to be smart in terms of rest and rotation in a very long season, but we have a nice big squad and guys that are raring to go," said Kiran Carlson, who has captained the team in both trophy wins.

"There are plenty of guys who are buzzing for this competition and want to put a statement down, who'll add freshness and energy.

"I love this month, it's a great competition and we've done well in it."

Glamorgan begin their campaign with two matches in three days at Neath, hosting Hampshire and Derbyshire at a venue which also saw the women's team defeat Leicestershire three days previously.

As in the last two years, the visit is the only time Glamorgan's senior men play outside Cardiff, with Neath replacing Swansea on the schedule and no matches in Colwyn Bay since Covid disrupted the county's links with the north.

"I'm a big fan of the outgrounds, always have been since I was growing up watching Glamorgan at Abergavenny then travelling to Swansea and Colwyn Bay. Neath do a really good job so I'm looking forward to it," said Harrison.

The other two home games will be played in Cardiff while Glamorgan face trips to The Oval (Surrey), Bristol (Gloucestershire), Chelmsford (Essex) and Worcester with the top three in each group progressing to the knock-out stages.

Glamorgan (from): Byrom, Tribe, Smale, Carlson (c), Root, Ul Hassan, Horton, Gorvin, Harris, Leonard, Franco, Morris, Hurle.

Hampshire (from): Gubbins (c), Orr, Middleton, Organ, Prest, Weatherley, Eckland, Jack, Kelly, Lumsden, Neal, Varma, Mayes.