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Welcome

The change in style of this publication reflects some subtle changes in approach at Glamorgan, which we hope will bring significant benefits to our members.

to the SWALEC Stadium from Martyn Bicknell, Editor

Welcome to the new season at the SWALEC Stadium and a new-look Glamorgan magazine.

The change in style of this publication reflects some subtle changes in our approach here at Glamorgan, which we hope will bring significant benefits to our members and supporters.

Improvements we have made:

We want our members to feel valued and for all Glamorgan supporters to enjoy being part of the Club, so we’ve lined up a number of improvements for members which have been made available from the first competitive home game of the season against Surrey.

• 10% Discount on all food and beverages in the Members and Premier lounges as well as a new menu in the Members’ Restaurant – simplified dishes, better pricing.

We’re proud of our Club’s history and we know you are too, but it’s fair to say, we’ve not given you enough opportunities to celebrate both the current players and those that have created the heritage of the Club as well as we could have done in recent times.

We hope these changes will result in real benefits and this magazine is just the start.

MAKING WALES PROUD

• Commitment to member’s events - for those of you at the Surrey game this started with a Q&A with Michael Hogan. We’ll also host Meet the Players evening, a members forum, Christmas lunches and we plan to launch a members' wine club.

• Reciprocal Arrangements with other First-Class Counties and other sporting venues - full details to follow.

• Free Newspapers (The Times & Daily Telegraph), in both Members and Premier Lounge as well as tea and coffee in Members & Premier lounges.

• Special offers from partners with a new loyalty scheme to be launched.

• Members survey early and post-season.

• Introduction of a new bitter, Shep’s Brew, endorsed by the great Don Shepherd.

We hope you enjoy these new benefits, the season ahead and the magazine.

04 // 05

#07

#18

F R O N T FO OT

IN THIS EDITION #14

#23 #17

#12

#27

07

NEWS

10

PRE-SEASON in Pictures

12

2015 PREVIEW

14

GLAMORGAN V SURREY in Pictures

17

IMPROVING AEROBIC PERFORMANCE

18

GLAMORGAN TEAM 2015

23

MICHAEL HOGAN - FACE TO FACE

27

THE INVESTEC ASHES TROPHY TOUR in Pictures

28

THE ASHES PARTNER SCHOOLS PROJECT

30

SHINING SCRIBES The Young Writers Project

32

IN WITH INGRAM

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News

WILL BRAGG Receives Glamorgan Cap

MARK WALLACE 10,000 first-class runs milestone

Glamorgan's Will Bragg was presented with his Glamorgan cap during the lunch interval of the opening home game of the LV=County Championship against Surrey at the SWALEC Stadium.

Will Bragg made his Glamorgan debut in 2007 and last summer he scored over 1,000 runs in first-class cricket. Will began the 2015 season by scoring a career-best 120 against Leicestershire at Grace Road.

Long-serving gloveman Mark Wallace reached the personal milestone of 10,000 first-class runs in the drawn game against Leicestershire at the start of this season. He is likely to soon become the first-ever specialist Glamorgan wicket-keeper to score 10,000 first-class runs for the Welsh county and the first Glamorgan player to do so since Mike Powell in May 2008. Mark will be the 24th Glamorgan player to reach the milestone.

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GLAMORGAN CCC NETS TWO SPONSORSHIP RENEWALS MiPost & Castell Howell extend their support Two of Glamorgan County Cricket Club’s most high profile Welsh sponsors have extended their exclusive deals with the club for the 2015 season.

Castell Howell Foods will again provide stand sponsorship at the club while MiPost will continue to have their brand emblazoned on the front of the club’s one day shirts.

Castell Howell is one of the country's leading independent food wholesalers, serving over 4,000 customers across a wide range of organisations including hotels, restaurants, schools and leisure establishments.

Operations Director for Castell Howell Foods, Matt Lewis said: “As Glamorgan’s preferred food suppliers we’re very proud to be associated with the club. We found that the sponsorship deal mutually beneficial in the last year, which made us keen to see it continue.

“With the Ashes coming to Cardiff this year, we are confident that we will see even more benefits as a result of our deal with Glamorgan.”

MiPost, part of A McLay and Company Limited (McLays), a print, digital and mail solutions company based in Cardiff for over 100 years , offers hybrid postal services and innovative cost saving solutions for businesses of all sizes. The company will be the main shirt sponsor for Glamorgan’s NatWest T20 Blast and Royal London One Day Cup competition kits.

MAKING WALES PROUD

MiPost and Glamorgan have worked closely on a number of key projects this year including all of the club’s digital printing and creating bespoke mail outs for Membership campaigns and Ashes promotion. As well as a key place on the team’s shirt, MiPost’s branding will be prominently displayed on Glamorgan’s website, online sponsors’ directory and throughout the stadium.

Barrie Stevens, Head of Marketing for MiPost said: “We were very pleased with the way the sponsorship agreement panned out last year, which meant that we were more than happy to extend the deal. We have also enjoyed a very successful working relationship with the Glamorgan marketing team which we hope will continue this season and beyond.

“As part of our strategic plans to build the MiPost brand both inside and outside Wales, we see our relationship with Glamorgan as a core channel to creating awareness. It also helps that we are totally on-board with Hugh’s vision for Glamorgan and would certainly love to be part of that development in the coming years.”

Hugh Morris, Chief Executive and Director of Cricket at Glamorgan CCC said: “As a proud Welsh club, we are really pleased to be associated with two strong, Welsh brands like MiPost and Castell Howell.

“That these are both contract extensions is testament to the benefits that can come from working together.”

08 // 09

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Glamorgan Pre-season

in pictures

MAKING WALES PROUD

10 // 11

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A new captain invariably brings new ideas, and Jacques Rudolph has already started his plans to make the team more competitive in championship cricket.

2015 PREVIEW

Edward Bevan has a look at the key players and emerging talent for Glamorgan & the upcoming 2015 season Glamorgan had a fine start to last

His return to first team action can’t come

year’s season by winning their opening

soon enough. In Hogan’s absence, the new

championship game, but they will be

ball attack has been led by Graham Wagg

aiming to achieve greater consistency

who enjoyed a successful season last year

throughout this forthcoming summer

in all competitions, while there will be

than in 2014. They didn’t record their

early season opportunities for the other

second win until June, and by the time

seamers, notably loanee Craig Meschede

they gained their third and final victory

– from Somerset - Ruaidhri Smith and Will

in the penultimate game, all thoughts of

Owen.

promotion had gone.

To compensate for the early season A new captain invariably brings new

loss of Hogan and Jim Allenby, who

ideas, and Jacques Rudolph has already

has joined Somerset, the club has also

started his plans to make the team more

added seamer Andy Carter on loan from

competitive in championship cricket but

Nottinghamshire.

those plans might have been slightly hindered by Michael Hogan’s injury two

Dean Cosker will again lead the spin

months ago. The West Australian fast

attack, with Kieran Bull and Andrew

bowler has been a revelation since joining

Salter- two emerging off spinners-

the club two years ago and his rich haul of

competing for a place alongside Cosker

wickets during that time are testament to

when the pitches become drier, and more

his wholehearted endeavour at all times.

spin friendly later in the season.

MAKING WALES PROUD

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Glamorgan need to score more runs than last year, and although Gareth Rees, Allenby, and Murray Goodwin have left, the club have made some astute signings.

James Kettleborough - son of umpire Richard - has joined from Northants and has already impressed in early season games getting his maiden first-class 50 for the Club against Surrey, while South African middle order batsman Colin Ingram has arrived after a prolific season there and should stabilize the middle order. Chris Cooke is now an established first team player, and the top five, followed by either David Lloyd or Ben Wright and then Mark Wallace, Wagg and Meschede should ensure more batting points than last season.

With a second overseas player due to be announced shortly, Glam should again be competitive in the NatWest T20 Blast competition, and although they will start 2 points adrift in the Royal London One-Day Cup a couple of early wins will boost confidence and they could cause an upset or two. Much will depend on the fitness of their leading players during almost six months of constant cricket, but they certainly have the talent and will to succeed.

Chris Cooke is now an established first team player, and the top five, followed by either David Lloyd or Ben Wright and then Mark Wallace,Wagg and Meschede should ensure more batting points than last season.

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Glamorgan v Surrey in pictures

MAKING WALES PROUD

14 // 15

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16 // 17

WH Y GLA M O R GA N USE B AT T LE R OPES TO I M P R OVE A E R OB I C PE R FOR MA N CE

by Tom Turner, Strength & Conditioning Coach OVERVIEW The aerobic energy pathway is a significant contributing factor to many team and individual sports. Many team sports such as cricket, rugby and hockey place a large demand on the lower body during training and competition. With a high percentage of training and performance workload on the lower body it would be beneficial, in sports with a high volume of lower body contribution, to train for aerobic performance improvements via the upper body.

TRAINING FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN AEROBIC PERFORMANCE It is well documented in scientific literature that endurance or medium intensity training (6,24) and high intensity interval training (13,15) or sprint interval training (3,4) are effective methods of training to improve aerobic performance. Changes in performance from endurance training are predominantly account for by central adaptation; whereas improvements from high intensity or sprint interval training have been identified by changes in both central and peripheral factors (13,15,20). In team sports high intensity interval training and sprint interval training can be seen as a superior methods of improving the aerobic performance due to its ability to produce significant improvements in markers associated with aerobic performance in a short duration of time (3,4,15,20). These shorter forms of training can also be adapted to replicate both the work intensity and duration of the team sport.

EXERCISE CROSSOVER/ THE TRANSFER EFFECT The transfer effect of training is when a trained body part, or limb, leads to improvements in performance not only in the trained limb, but also in the untrained part of the body. Research in to this transfer

effect when training using the arms (19,30) has shown significant improvements in the legs performance when an increase of > 30% aerobic fitness (VO2max) has been made in arm test. In the studies reviewed that investigated this crossover from arm training to leg performance the subjects had performed medium intensity training protocols.

A SOLUTION TO OFF-LOAD THE TEAM SPORT ATHLETE? So it has been identified that it would be beneficial to improve aerobic performance using the arms due to the high percentage of team sports that involve the lower body for the majority of training and performance.

Additionally it has been highlighted that the previous literature has shown that an exercise crossover or transfer effect is possible when large improvements are made in central measures of aerobic fitness.

However what has not been investigated is if high intensity interval training can be applied to arm training to make improvements in the legs, during a period of training where no lower body aerobic training is performed.

INVESTIGATION ON TO THE TRANSFER EFFECT At Glamorgan county cricket club eleven male professional cricket players were randomly divided in to two groups for a training period of 4 weeks. Both groups performed strength training 3 days a week for a duration of 4 weeks. One of the groups, lets call them the ‘rope’ group, performed additional upper body high intensity interval training at the end of each strength session.

The sessions were performed seated to eliminate lower body contribution and typically consisted of 2 sets of 12 reps of 15:15 (work : rest), combining to a total session time of 14 minutes. The other group, the ‘control’ group, performed no additional exercise following the strength sessions and

did not do any additional lower body aerobic or strength training for the 4 weeks.

A variety of performance measures were taken prior to and following the exercise period. It was no surprise that the rope group experienced a 12% increase in upper body exercise capacity, which was identified by the duration of performance in an upper body aerobic maximal test. The exciting finding came when the groups performed a lower body aerobic maximal test (Yoyo IR1). The rope group experienced an improvement of 11% in the lower body test compared to 3% of the control group. This highlights a clear improvement in lower body aerobic performance in the group performing the rope training without actually exercising the lower body.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS This study assessed multiple scientific measures in aerobic and anaerobic performance from the rope training, but the significant finding identified was the trainings ability to improve lower body aerobic performance without actually training the lower body. Additionally it was found that just three 14 minute sessions a week was enough exercise to stop any body fat gain while increasing lean mass on an increased calorie diet.

GIVE IT A GO If you feel like giving your legs a break from pounding the treadmill or track but don’t want to lose your hard earned fitness gains give the high intensity interval rope training a go. You can perform it seated or standing and use multiple moves such as slams, uppercuts, twists, fast hands. Make sure for each 15s work interval you give it maximum effort to push that heart rate up. Preform 2 – 3 times a week alongside your weights training for an added boost to body comp and size goals.

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Glamorgan 2015 MAKING WALES PROUD

18 // 19

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MAKING WALES PROUD

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1950

1969

Provided by Heineken Wales

2015

22 // 23

MICHAEL HOGAN

Face to face Article by Michael Temple

63 wickets in the LV= County Championship, 14 wickets in the Royal London One-Day Cup and 21 wickets in the NatWest T20 Blast: Michael Hogan’s tally in 2014 placed him firmly amongst an elite band of star bowlers.

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We’re a One-Club nation and that gives a real sense of passion when you play for Glamorgan

over the ball and moves it a bit. He’s a very good acquisition for our squad.

“Bringing in new players are always a good thing and its great to see players coming in. They’ll make the club better and that’s the main thing.”

Heads dropped across Wales when it became clear that Hogan’s absence in the latter stages of the Sheffield Shield pointed towards a period of rehabilitation at the beginning of the LV= County Championship season.

A false dawn in his return from a similar injury led to a cautionary approach to discussions around potential inclusion for the visit of Surrey but it was wisely felt that the risk of a setback should inform a more considered re-introduction.

“It was touch and go for the Surrey game,” he said.

“I’d worked on my sprints and explosive work and it was just a case of getting more miles in the legs before getting back into it.

“I needed to do some long runs and bowl more overs in the nets and we felt it was best to ensure that I was absolutely ready.”

External observers may feel the need to question why Hogan remains committed to Glamorgan given his potential suiting to Division One cricket. The relative strength of the top tier is often a source of discussion but Hogan is often included in a short-list of potential toptier stars plying their trade outside of the upper echelons.

“We’re a One-Club nation and that gives a real sense of passion when you play for Glamorgan,” he said.

“I’ve met Hugh Morris in the last 12 months and he speaks about what it has always meant to play for this Club and it certainly means a lot to me.”

Hogan’s heroics against Kent two years ago remain engrained in folklore. With three runs required from the final over, Kent batsmen Tredwell, Claydon and Bollinger faced the Australian who defied the odds with metronomic accuracy

Mark Footitt (Derbyshire), Steve Magoffin (Sussex), Jack Brooks (Yorkshire) and Chris Rushworth (Durham) may have eclipsed his haul in the LV= County Championship but he brushed them all aside in the shortest form.

He’s no all-rounder, but if he could be cloned, Jacques Rudolph would request his presence in triplicate.

“Defending that total was one of the most exciting things I’ve been part of in my career and the only time I’ve ever managed to defend three runs in the final over,” said Hogan.

“You ride the emotions of the crowd throughout a game like that and it gets you up for the challenge.

“After the challenge, you reflect and wonder why you weren’t nervous at the time but it was a great thing to be part of.”

Metronomic accuracy and a boundless appetite to take responsibility in all conditions have earned him a reputation as a fearsome competitor across the county game.

Spirits are high in Australian cricket. Victory in the ICC Cricket World Cup and possession of the Ashes Urn provide a stark contrast to the broad broom that has swept aside a cast of characters in and around the England team.

As Hogan sat out of the early season draws against Leicestershire and Surrey, loan rangers Craig Meschede (from Somerset) and Andy Carter (Nottinghamshire) came to the forefront and the 31 year old from Newcastle in New South Wales, was pleased with what he saw.

Many neutrals have made a justifiable assumption that Australia will brush their hosts aside when hostilities resume at the SWALEC Stadium in July, but Hogan insists that Darren Lehmann will banish any complacency.

“I watched the highlights of the game at Leicestershire and it was clear that Andy Carter gets the ball through pretty quickly,” said Hogan.

“Darren will simply not allow the team to expect a walk-over,” said Hogan.

“We’ve been on the wrong end of Craig Meschede when he’s played against us and we know he gives it a good whack.

“Australia are on a high from the last Ashes series and the World Cup win while England are being portrayed as being at an all-time low and there is talk of rifts in the camp.

“I’ve been particularly impressed with his bowling though as he gets

“Anything can happen but Australia are favourites for a reason.”

MAKING WALES PROUD

24 // 25

Mitchell Johnson has lurched from the ridiculous to the sublime in his battles with English batsmen. Jeered and feared by the Barmy Army in recent years. He’s unlikely to find too many groundsmen prepared to offer him assistance in England and Wales this summer, but scars remain from recent encounters that could give him a psychological edge.

Hogan was the first Glamorgan player to open up to members at a lunch-time question and answer session.

Honest and engaging, there was a tangible sigh of relief when he announced his imminent return to action. Nothing was off limits and he was happy to respond to enquiries about Jim Allenby’s decision to jump ship for Somerset.

“The Champions Trophy put Mitchell back on the map as he returned from injury with a new action,” said Hogan.

“Jim has stated his reasons and he wanted to be in a winning dressing room,” said Hogan.

“He became a real force in world cricket but in previous tours he’s been poor.

“We are bringing young talent through the system at Glamorgan and pairing them with senior players to nurture that talent.

“Conditions might not be favourable to him this time around though and I’d be surprised if he gets the assistance from English wickets that he gets back home, particularly over five days.”

Hogan is a proud advocate of the Big Bash League, Australia’s booming domestic T20 competition. A different tactical stance from Cricket Australia saw the creation of city franchises and a preference for free-toair television coverage to drive impressive attendance growth.

first class cricket (he made his debut at 28) and an admission that he had no interest in cricket until he began playing socially with friends in his early twenties, go part of the way to explaining why his numbers outweigh his profile.

Debate rages on as to how the ECB should best serve a comparable tournament on these shores with considerable resistance from county chairmen keen to preserve the 18-team status quo.

Hogan is not express, but his control and variations are the envy of many and there was a feeling of joy at Glamorgan when he made the call to take the British citizenship afforded by his parentage, even playing as an overseas professional in Australia in recent times.

“The Big Bash has an ability to draw big name players outside of the international calendar because of smart scheduling,” said Hogan, who has represented Hobart Hurricanes.

“in the last five years, Australian team management have wanted their fast bowlers to be 90 miles per hour plus and I don’t fit that bill,” said Hogan.

“It’s a block of T20 cricket and it brings the fans in. It’s been well marketed and priced fairly in the school holidays and that has proved to be a winning formula.”

“At my age, I’m happy to forego the international dream and settle in to playing domestic cricket.

The ECB are in the midst of another period of thinking around the best means of achieving balance in the domestic calendar.

“I feel that I came to county cricket at the right time but my only regret is that I didn’t’ put enough work in in my early twenties and that probably cost me four years in first class cricket.”

Traditionalists advocate for the preservation of the LV=County Championship in a symmetrical two division structure, while modernisers make a case for less four-day cricket to make way for more white ball matches.

“Blocks of cricket makes the transition easier for players but there are only 10 first class games in each season in Australia so scheduling is easier,” said Hogan.

‘We’re paid to do a job though and we have to react to the fixture list.

Some players are becoming tagged as specialists but others can change their game to suit.”

Hogan’s prowess in recent years belies the fact that he has never made an international appearance. A latecomer to

“He’s 32 and he wants to try and win some trophies and he didn’t think he could do that here. People have their own goals and things they want to achieve and there was no point him staying if he didn’t feel he should be part of the plan.”

A record ninth-wicket stand between Craig Meschede and Dean Cosker and a nervous final stand between Meschede and Andy Carter allowed Glamorgan to inch past the follow-on and secure a draw against starladen Surrey in game two.

The presence of Kevin Pietersen and Kumar Sangakarra ensured the county media set remained camped in Cardiff but Hogan was impressed by the manner in which his teammates approached the match.

“You can’t be overawed by big name players,” he said.

“We’re all on the same field and if you allow yourself to consider the standing of some of the players that Surrey have then they’ll eat you up because of the talent they have got.

“It doesn’t matter who you come up against if they’ve got 10,000 test runs or not – put emotions to one side and get on with the game.”

Glamorgan have struggled to find a foot hold in red ball cricket in recent seasons and with a small squad punctuated with emerging talent, their remains no lofty expectation. But what chance of springing a surprise in the manner that has seen Northamptonshire and Derbyshire enjoy brief forays into the top tier in recent times?

“We all want promotion but realistically we need to improve our four-day game,” said Hogan.

“We all strive to be at the top of the table but if we concentrate on what makes us better then we can get to the top four, reflect on our progress and continue to improve.”

INSPIRING EVENTS

INSPIRED VENUE

CHRISTMAS

at the Swalec Stadium PRIVATE CHRISTMAS PARTY NIGHT (Minimum 50, Maximum 180) Delicious two course seated dinner with coffee & chocolates

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Canapés (4 bites per person) £6.00pp

Herb roasted breast of chicken With homemade stuffing, shallot and thyme potato cake with seasonal vegetables

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Package Price - £29.50pp

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Mulled wine drinks reception £3.75pp

Traditional Christmas chocolate log Chocolate and raspberry roulade with dark chocolate sauce and raspberry sorbet.

Drinks tokens (Beer, house wine and Soft drinks) £3.35pp

Coffee and chocolates

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26 // 27

Investec Ashes Trophy Tour in pictures

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Spreading the word with the Ashes Partner Schools Project

The countdown to the Ashes in July 2015

Staff and pupils from Bryn Deri Primary School have also been recreating other famous

has already begun at a number of schools

moments in Ashes history with a presentation about the 1932/33 Bodyline series in

across Wales as Glamorgan County Cricket

Australia, when the English bowlers used fast leg-theory to counteract the threat posed

Club has undertaken a project called

by Australian batting genius Don Bradman, as well as events from the Ashes Test Match

Ashes Partner Schools. The project works

at Headingley in 1981 when Ian Botham almost single-handedly defeated the Australians

with children from primary and secondary

after England had been forced to follow-on.

schools in a number of classroombased schemes as well as other learning

Two other schools have chosen to create material about legendary Glamorgan players

activities during visits to the SWALEC

who played in Ashes cricket with pupils from Ysgol Pencae interviewing Robert Croft

Stadium, each with an Ashes–theme.

about his involvement in Test Matches against Australia both at home and abroad. Whilst pupils from Dylan Thomas Community School in Swansea have looked at the international

Some of the schools in the Project are

career of Simon Jones, with the pace bowler speaking to the youngsters about his

re-creating various historical aspects of

involvement in the 2005 series which saw the return of the Ashes to these shores.

the iconic Test series between England and Australia, as well as re-enacting what is

Pupils from YGG Ystalyfera have been looking at the importance of sport to Wales, whilst

believed to be the events surrounding the

“Why Cardiff is a very good venue for international sport” has been the theme of work

creation of the historic Ashes urn itself.

undertaken by pupils from Rhiwbeina Primary School. Groups of pupils from their Year 5

Pupils from Thornhill Primary School have

cohort have visited the SWALEC Stadium and have undertaken a guided tour behind the

created a short film telling the story of the

scenes at the venue, which will hold the opening Test in the 2015 series. Besides visiting

love affair between Ivo Bligh, the English

the CC4 Museum of Welsh Cricket and looking at the objects on display in the Ashes and

captain in the 1882/83 series in Australia

Wales Exhibition, the youngsters visited the Really Welsh Pavilion where they went into

with Florence Morphy and how, after a

the away changing room where the Australian cricketers will be based for the Test Match.

light-hearted game at Rupertswood House in Melbourne, the music teacher is believed

The children also visited the Media Centre to look at the area where the journalists will

to have burnt a bail (or perhaps a ball) and

be writing, blogging and broadcasting about the Test Match in July, before having a skills

placed the charred remains into a small

drills session indoors in the National Cricket Centre where the Test cricketers – like

terracotta urn, before presenting it to the

Glamorgan’s players – get a chance to practise their batting and bowling skills

England leader.

MAKING WALES PROUD

28 // 29

If you would like further information about the Project or would like your school or group to have a behind-the-scenes tour of the SWALEC Stadium on a non-match day, please contact Andrew Hignell on 02920 419383, or send an email to museum@glamorgancricket.co.uk

Here is what a selection of pupils from 5P

Here is what some of the individual pupils

from the participating schools will be

and 5H of Rhiwbeina PS wrote about their

thought themselves of their visit to the

present at the ground. The Ashes Partner

visit:

home of Glamorgan Cricket as part of the

Schools Project is a fantastic opportunity

Ashes Partner Schools Project:

for these schoolchildren, besides helping

“We were lucky enough to get a tour

to deliver, through the medium of sport,

around the SWALEC Stadium. On this trip

“It was very interesting and we learnt so

we went into the changing room and we

much about cricket and many of us would

saw lots of cricket kit from all over the

now like to have lessons”

As Richard Thomas, Headmaster of Ysgol

world. We then got to try lots of the kit

Megan C.

Pencae said, “This project perfectly fits

on.”

several important key messages.

several of our curriculum areas and the “I liked the trip because the tour was

activities in partnership with Glamorgan

“We were very fortunate enough to go

excellent and they told you detailed facts”

Cricket will significantly enhance the

into Media Centre, and were allowed to

Louie M.

delivery of these areas. One of our key

sit in the seats used by the writers. We

targets during the course of the past

also saw the TV Studio and Commentary

“I thought that the trip was brilliant. We

few years has been the improvement of

Rooms - it must get very hot in there

got to look in the media room and we got

literacy skills of boys, and these proposals

when filming!”

to try some of the world’s most famous

during the Ashes summer and beyond

cricket players’ tops on”

present a fantastic opportunity for us to

Ellie T.

meet these targets, and to make a decisive

“We also had a chance to play - to begin with we partnered up with a class mate

improvement to the academic progress of

and were given one tennis ball to practise

“I enjoyed the trip because they

throwing and catching with each other.

encouraged you whilst you were playing”

We also learnt under arm bowling as well

Evan D-C.

as overarm bowling. Then we practised

all of our pupils.”

Liz Berry, Deputy Head of Thornhill Primary School, said, “Our pupils and

batting with the coach to get ready for the

“The tour was amazing and all of us would

staff have been delighted to be part of

game that we were going to play. We think

love to come back again”

such an important global sporting event

that our game understanding and skills

Cameron P.

and we are looking forward to sharing

really improved. We are looking forward to cricket sessions in school!”

this with other schools across Wales. The Further examples of the work undertaken

whole Project and the Ashes Exhibition

by pupils from schools in the Ashes

is a fabulous opportunity for children to

Partner Schools scheme will be featured

visit the home of Glamorgan Cricket, meet

in other issues of this magazine during

their players, to watch live county cricket

the course of the summer, whilst all of

and also to research the history of the

the presentations, powerpoints and films

Ashes. We hope that through the project,

created by the pupils in this Project will

the children will develop a passion for

be on display in the CC4 Museum of Welsh

cricket whilst creating a lasting legacy of

Cricket at Glamorgan’s headquarters

written work and film clips for Glamorgan

during the coming months. What's more

CCC, the CC4 Museum of Welsh Cricket

they will be shown on the big screen at

and for Wales as a whole.”

the SWALEC Stadium during the Welsh county’s domestic matches this summer.

Some will also be shown during the Test Match when a group of children and staff

FRONTFOOT // GLAMORGANCRICKET.COM

Discussing the quality of the stories, Dewi said “J.K Rowling step down. The Kids are on the street! Read ‘em and weep! Brilliant.”

The judging panel was a twenty-strong team of renowned Welsh figures from varied backgrounds, including Dr Rowan Williams, actor and writer Ruth Jones, Singer Bonnie Tyler, rugby legend Scott Quinnell and Olympic athletes Iwan Thomas and Jamie Baulch, as well as Glamorgan’s very own Robert Croft.

Former Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams said: “I very much enjoyed reading these stories: all of them deserved to be in the top ten, because all of them had what I’d expect from a really good short story – atmosphere, suspense, surprise. But I also enjoyed the humour of some of the stories. And many of the writers showed a real maturity in the way they handled language, with excellent descriptions and unexpected ways of looking at things”.

At the CC4 Museum of Welsh Cricket

The winner was crowned as Ffion Thomas from Llanyrafon

The inaugural Shining Scribes presentation night was held in the

by actor Rakie Ayola. Second and Third placed entries came from

CC4 Museum of Welsh Cricket at the SWALEC Stadium.

Niamh Critchley of Gilwern Primary in Monmouthshire and Lois

Primary in Torfaen. Her winning entry ‘Goodnight Love’ was read

Dunn of Ogmore Vale Primary in Bridgend.

Shining Scribes Young Writers’ Project is a short-story writing competition open to primary school children across Wales, in

Sophie Buck (Tremains Primary); Joel Jones (Ysgol Y Berllan Deg);

Years 5 & 6. The aim is to encourage pupils to display their

Kara Morgan Rees (Newton Primary); Holly Lewis (Bryncethin

creative writing skills by producing an original piece of fiction

Primary); Ellie James (Blaengarw Primary); Arabella Hodges

within a 500-word limit.

(Dinas Powys Primary) and Emily Harris (Ysgol Sant Curig) were also highly commended for their work, and for making the final

Schools from regions all over South Wales took part in

ten.

the competition, with the successful finalists coming from schools in the regions of Bridgend, Vale of Glamorgan, Cardiff,

Shining Scribes Founder, Richard White, said “I started this

Monmouthshire and Torfaen.

competition with the intention of providing young writers with a platform to demonstrate and share their creative writing talents.

The ceremony evening was a resounding success with the Top

Little did I know that all of the competition entries that I received

10 competition finalists listening to audio recordings of their

would surpass my high expectations. I think that the quality of

stories, which had been provided by respected Welsh actors. In

work is outstanding”.

addition, pupils received a tour of the SWALEC Stadium, courtesy of Glamorgan CCC and given by the Club’s Archivist and Museum

It is hoped that this year will be the first of many for the

Curator, Andrew Hignell.

competition. Schools across Wales are encouraged to participate in next year’s competition. Registration is open from now until the

Pupils were given rewards and prizes to recognise their

deadline date of 1st December 2015. For more information, and to

achievement and to celebrate their success. This included all

read the incredible winning stories, visit

pupils receiving complimentary tickets to watch Glamorgan CCC

www.shiningscribes.co.uk

play in the NatWest T20 Blast this coming summer, and for their schools to participate in the ‘Watch and Write” scheme run by the Welsh county. Pupils are invited to their headquarters at the SWALEC Stadium to watch a match and write about it, in the style of sports journalists.

Actor, musician, presenter and former Children’s poet laureate for Wales, Dewi Pws Morris was in attendance to witness the incredible talent on display and offer some wise words of advice to the children.

MAKING WALES PROUD

FRONTFOOT // GLAMORGANCRICKET.COM

COLIN INGRAM

In comes Ingram Article by Peter Miller first published by Cricket365.com

After several years of Glamorgan having a distinctly Australian

He explained: "I got a bit of momentum

flavour there has been a shift over the last couple of seasons. Of

up and just cashed in on that. I thoroughly

course there is a thread of Welsh players running through the

enjoyed it and coming out here I am looking

first team and the squad, but the current top five has three South

to bring that with me, and the things I learnt

Africans.

and the things I did during the season and hopefully that kicks on here.

Chris Cooke has been at Glamorgan for a long while now, but in the last two seasons he has been joined by Jacques Rudolph and most

"I think I planned a lot better. I think being

recently Colin Ingram.

part of the leadership of the team, taking extra responsibility pushed me on as well.

Ingram has made the decision to call time on his South African

I was a lot clearer in terms of what I wanted

ambitions; he played the last of his 31 ODIs in November 2013 and

to do. And obviously with a bit of confidence

has signed for Glamorgan as a 'Kolpak'.

of getting a few scores that just helped me kick on."

When he made the decision to, in essence, play county cricket as a home player, he changed his registration in South Africa and has

Despite this brilliant season, Ingram is

been playing for the Warriors franchise as an overseas player since

happy with his call to put his international

January.

ambitions behind him, saying: "I have always

viewed my career as a journey. I only started Ingram told Cricket365; "I felt it was important with the way I do

quite late and had to work really hard to just

things that if I had committed to play here as a local that it was

crack into the system back home.

important to change that registration straight away."

"Just to stretch that on and to make sure I am This decision comes on the back of Ingram’s best ever season in

getting the most out of my cricket journey,

First Class and List A cricket, where he topped the averages. He

I have always wanted to play county cricket.

says he felt that this brilliant form was the result of increased

It has always been a light at the end of the

responsibility and better planning.

tunnel. Obviously with the international

MAKING WALES PROUD

32 // 33

window closing for me it was a big decision

"He wants to play county cricket, he has

to. He brings a lot of experience. It will be

but one I am absolutely delighted with. I

given up his international days and wants to

nice for young players like Aneurin Donald

think if I had missed out on that opportunity

do a really good job for us at Glamorgan."

(Glamorgan’s teenage batting protege) to

I would always have regretted it."

learn from him as well."

Ingram himself was full of praise for his new

Certainly both captain and coach are

captain, saying that working with Rudolph

Ingram is very excited at the prospect of

delighted to have Ingram in the set up in

was very appealing: "Having been in and

county cricket, and last season’s handful

Cardiff. Glamorgan’s coach Toby Radford

around Jacques over a number of years I do

of games at Somerset only increased his

said: "As soon as he arrived he was netting

know him, and I spoke to him last year when

desire to ply his trade in the shires.

every day. You can see a great worth ethic.

I was out here that my intentions were to play some county cricket.

"Just chatting to him you can see he is a

He continued: "[Before Somerset] I had

been trying to get a shortish stint for three

top guy, he is very sensible. He comes with

"So when I opened myself up to the market

seasons before that so I was really lucky to

a fantastic rap from everyone you speak

and Glamorgan got hold of me I was quite

get that stint filling in for Alviro [Petersen]

to and clearly a top quality international

excited because I had worked with him

and it just sort of reawakened the senses to

player, I think he could be massive for us

before and played against him a lot."

just how much I wanted to come here and

this year."

play county cricket.

Rudolph returned the favour when speaking

Jacques Rudolph is captaining the side this

about his new middle order colleague, it is

"It was great to do well while I was out here

year has certainly helped in persuading

very clear that the two men get on.

as well, just as an advertisement for myself and that kicked things into gear for this

Ingram that Glamorgan was the county for him.

Rudolph told C365: "We have lost some

players [in the close season] but with Colin Radford explained: "I think Jacques played a

coming in he is a genuinely nice bloke, he

bit of a part in it, talking to Colin he was very

wants to contribute to the environment

keen to come.

which is something I will be looking forward

I have always viewed my career as a journey. I only started quite late and had to work really hard to just crack into the system back home.

season."

FRONTFOOT // GLAMORGANCRICKET.COM

Colin Ingram on his new

TEAM MATES He wants to play county cricket, he has given up his international days and wants to do a really good job for us at Glamorgan.

Ingram will be playing in both county cricket and in South Africa, and while it could be that his franchise would be unhappy with his decision to in essence became an overseas player he says that he will be returning there this winter without any issues.

He said: "The Warriors are more than happy to have me back, I

have played there nine seasons and I am fortunate that I have great working relationship with the management there and so I am looking forward to back to back seasons for the next couple of years."

Who has the worst dress sense?

JAMES KETTLEBOROUGH He had some horrific sunglasses on the other day which we got stuck into him for

Who is the laziest trainer?

JACQUES RUDOLPH ...because I haven't seen him train yet!

Who's the best fun on a night out?

GRAHAM WAGG I've not been in the country long but I reckon Waggy [Graham Wagg] will be up there

Who would win a 100m race?

GRAHAM WAGG

English (and Welsh) domestic set ups is the number of teams.

Who would win an arm-wrestling competition?

Where as in England there are 18 first class counties, in South

WILLIAM BRAGG

Africa there are just six franchises despite the populations of the

Who would you least like to be stuck in a lift with?

Perhaps the biggest difference between the South Africa and

two countries being very similar.

Many have spoken of reducing the teams in county cricket, but Ingram says that reducing sides brings its own problems: "In one

way I think the South African system is quite congested at the moment with only six teams.

"So there are a lot of good players that are missing out on game time and we might be losing young players that aren't getting opportunities so in that way I think there would be growth for more teams.

"As long as your system can sustain the amount of teams that there are and it is strength vs strength I don't see it as a bad thing. As many cricketers that can get out on the park at a weekend and you still have strong sides I don't see why you would need to reduce the sides."

DEAN COSKER. I think he'd get bored very quickly

Who is the best footballer?

MARK WALLACE He is the best keeper. He's never too far out the box.

Who is the worst?

JAMES KETTLEBOROUGH He just hacks it forward and hopes. He has no skill.

Who has the worst hygiene?

DAVID LLOYD The smells that come out of him are disgusting.

Who spends the most time in front of the mirror?

DAVID LLOYD, AGAIN There's never a hair out of place and he spends a lot of time combing his beard.

MAKING WALES PROUD

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