County Championship preview: Glamorgan

2009 in a nutshell They may have been hard to beat in the Championship last summer (losing only twice and therefore retaining a chance of promotion until the final game), but they found it tough in one-day cricket, winning only six times in three competitions. County Championship Division 2 5th Pro 40 Division 2 6th Friends Provident Trophy 4th in Group D Twenty20 Cup 6th in Midlands/Wales/West Division What they'll be playing in this season LV County Championship: Division 2 Clydesdale Bank 40 Group A Friends Provident T20 – South Captain Jamie Dalrymple. It's never been easy for an Englishman to captain Glamorgan but Dalrymple survived his first year in charge in credit, averaging over 50 with the bat and picking up 20 Championship wickets. And there was no coup from the nationalists. If nothing else, he made the side harder to beat in four-day cricket. Maybe they don't mind a patrician in charge after all. Director of cricket Matthew Maynard. Has to cope with his son being in the squad but, if Micky Stewart could do it ... He does not refer to son, Tom, as "Glamorgan's No3" partly because young Maynard has yet to establish himself in the first team. It won't be easy for Maynard Sr to produce a Welsh side to match the new facilities. Ins and outs In Jim Allenby (Leicestershire), Nick James, David Brown (Gloucestershire), Shaun Tait Out Michael O'Shea, Ryan Watkins, Alex Wharf (retired) Overseas players Mark Cosgrove (Aus) and Shaun Tait (Aus) for Twenty20. Cosgrove, the roly-poly Australian from Adelaide, is likely to be a source of quick runs in all competitions; he was when available last year. Tait may terrorise opposition batsmen and his own captain in equal measure. His extreme pace can be awesome but is not trustworthy and the ball can fly anywhere on a bad day. Key player Can Robert Croft, 40 in May, keep creaking on in his 22nd season of first-class cricket? He was the club's leading wicket-taker last year by a disturbing margin. Glamorgan would welcome a dry, spinner-friendly summer, with Dean Cosker and Dalrymple as Croft's allies. Ashes factor Cosgrove and Tait are probably more likely to participate in the Ashes than any of those qualified for England. James Harris, a swing bowler, who could evolve as an all-rounder, is still only 19 and is the likeliest of their lads. Prediction for 2010 Seventh in Division 2. It will be a struggle for them to get promoted or to progress far in one-day cricket.