Glamorgan have had a disrupted winter with the sacking of head coach Grant Bradburn back in December, following a charge of misconduct by the independent cricket regulator. Bradburn had been referred by the club after receiving allegations of inappropriate behaviour and has now been reprimanded and cautioned by the Cricket Discipline Commission. Three episodes were documented, including questioning the “real age” of Asian players, claiming nepotism in selection in Pakistan (where he coached) and comparing the fielding of male players with that of the Western Storm (women). He had completed just one year of a three year deal and has been replaced by Richard Dawson on an interim basis. The former England off-spinner made his Test debut at 21, but played just seven games. He joined the senior England coaching team as elite performance pathway coach in 2021 having been the head coach for the England Lions’ tour of Australia in 2020. He was Gloucestershire’s head coach between 2015 and 2020, winning the One-Day Cup in his first season and taking them to the T20 Blast knockout stages four times. Dawson was part of the England Lions’ coaching staff in Australia this winter and then had duties at the Women’s Premier League in India, delaying his start. A permanent replacement will be announced at the end of the summer. Dawson will be in charge for the Championship and Blast, while his commitments to the Welsh Fire mean a One Day Cup coach will have to be found. David Harrison has previously carried out this role.
Glamorgan have also announced that former coach Matthew Mott will take on a part-time role in charge of coach development. He was Head Coach between 2011 and 2013 and since then has been in charge of the England white ball team, guiding them to victory in the 2022 T20 World Cup.
On the field, the one significant full time addition so far is Ned Leonard, who played on loan last season. The 22-year-old Millfield product moves from Somerset. The bowling remains a weakness, with a heavy dependence on Timm van der Gugten for wickets. Glamorgan have called on a number of overseas quicks in recent seasons and this year they have brought in Sri Lanka’s Asitha Fernando for the first seven Championship games. He was recently involved in Sri Lanka’s successful ODI series against Australia and has had one brief sortie into county cricket, taking six wickets at 25.16 in two games for Nottinghamshire in 2023. Van der Gugten needs to stay fit if Glamorgan are to mount any sort of challenge in the Championship, but he also needs more support from his fellow bowlers if Glamorgan are to improve on their two wins last summer.
Mason Crane was the main spin threat last summer, but his 29 wickets came at 44.37, which is a bit pricey to win you matches. Ben Kellaway has become well known for being able to bowl right and left arm orthodox spin and too 12 wickets at 22.5 in his four Championship starts and both are useful with the bat, Crane surprising many last year with his lower order runs, including two half centuries. However it has been reported by ESPNcricinfo that Crane is out with a shoulder injury for the start of the season and Somerset and England off-spinner Shoaib Bashir will be on his way up the M5 as cover. Bashir is unlikely to get game time with Jack Leach first choice in Taunton, so this will give him an opportuniy for an early season run out. He made a similar move to New Road last summer. It is also reported that Glamorgan are keen to play two spinners from the start of the season, which must be a concern if it means van der Gugten is given a heavy workload.
Colin Ingram has had a resurgence of his red ball form since being asked to stand in for Marnus Labuschagne in the last two seasons and the money saved from not re-signing the Australian should allow them to recruit a wicket taking bowler for the second half of the season. There are rumours that Labuschagne may make a guest appearance prior to the World Test Championship Final at Lord’s in early June. Both Ingram and Sam Northeast passed a thousand Championship runs last season, although Northeast will be hoping for a little more consistency. Kiran Carlson had another good season, but Glamorgan have struggled to find batters to fill the opener slots. It has been a problem for a number of years and the latest player to be pressed into service at the top of the order was Billy Root. His numbers suffered, scoring 528 runs at 26.40 compared to 884 at 52.00 in 2024. It was hoped that Eddie Byrom would be a regular opener, but injury meant he only played six Championship games, scoring 325 runs at 27.08, passing 50 just once. The bottom line is that modern batters are not looking to develop the skills needed to face the new red ball.
Glamorgan have struggled in the Blast and the lack of significant recruitment suggests there is little chance of them reaching the knock out stages in 2025. They were however successful in the One Day Cup, beating Somerset in the final and with only Crane making it into a Hundred team, they could call upon most of their first choice players for this second team competition.
Key player
Timm van der Gugten has struggled with injuries over recent seasons, but has been successful in all formats and was key to the One Day Cup success. Despite playing just seven Championship games last summer, he was their leading wicket taker with 30 at 21.96 and also contributed important runs, scoring 231 at 28.87. Glamorgan will surely be looking at how to keep him on the field.
One to watch
It is a while since a young player has come through and made a first team place his own. Someone who did make progress in 2024 was wicket keeper/batter Will Smale. He has eased his way in front of Alex Horton as Chris Cooke’s deputy and played in all three formats last summer. He was one that was pressed into service as an opener, on his Championship debut, making 41. He also opened in the One Day cup, but managed just 179 runs at 17.90. Even at 38-years-old Cooke looks to have a few more years left in him, but Smale will want to secure his credentials as the successor.
Ins and Outs
Overseas signings: Colin Ingram (South Africa), Asitha Fernando (Sri Lanka, until end of May)
Ins: Ned Leonard (Somerset), Callum Nichols (youth)
Outs: Harry Podmore (retired), Prem Sisodya (retired)
How will they fare
It is difficult to see Glamorgan competing for the top places in the Championship or Blast and their best chance of success will again be in the One Day Cup.
Opening fixture: CC vs Leicestershire on April 4 at Sophia Gardens
Likely Championship XI
- Byrom
- Smale
- Ingram
- Carlson
- Northeast
- Cooke (WK)
- van der Gugten
- Leonard
- Gorvin
- Bashir
- Fernando
