Evergreen Croft does his bit for Wales

Veteran Glamorgan spinner Robert Croft is relishing the start of the new county season as if it were his first campaign.

Croft is about to embark upon his 23rd year with the Welsh county and he insists that his desire to play cricket and help Glamorgan to success in all three domestic formats is as strong as ever.

The 40-year-old believes that playing for Glamorgan is tantamount to representing the entirety of Wales and it is one of the reasons he is keen to prolong his career for as long as possible.

He told ecb.co.uk: “I love playing, I love the winning side of it and picking up medals whenever we can, but also I think what is pretty special about playing for Glamorgan is it’s like playing for your country.

“I’m a Welshman, I’m a very proud Welshman and Glamorgan is the only professional cricket team in Wales and I think it adds that extra bit of spice on a morning.”

It has been an eventful winter at the SWALEC Stadium, with captain Jamie Dalrymple and director of cricket Matthew Maynard leaving in controversial circumstances.

Croft is at pains to stress that off-field matters are none of his concern, adding: “You look at all sports, not just cricket - there’s high turnover in rugby, football etc.

“When you’re employed to be a player, you get on as a player and guys that have phoned me over the winter, my only advice has been to get your head down and concentrate on what your game is.

"You’re employed to play and perform on the field and the other off-field stuff is down to the people who are paid to do that. That’s the only way you can view these things.”

Regardless, Croft is hopeful that new coach Matthew Mott will bring stability to the club.

“I’ll give him the full respect,” said Croft. “I’m sure if you do turn a place around like Glamorgan, the way our form has been, then it speaks volumes for you as a coach, so I’m sure he sees it as a challenge and if he gets it right and we get it right then it will go well on his CV.”

South African Alviro Petersen has taken over from Dalrymple as skipper, and will lead the side for the first time in their LV= County Championship Division Two opener against Leicestershire at Grace Road tomorrow.

Of his appointment, Croft added: “A change of accent, a change of voice, a change of attitude can bring out more in players and I’m sure that’s what everybody in the team is hoping.

“I’m sure Alviro will bring that winning culture but also play well. You can’t do one without the other really.”

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