New Glamorgan coach Grant Bradburn sets sights on promotion

Glamorgan's new coach Grant Bradburn says the county should not be "comfortable" playing in the second division of the Championship.

New Zealander Bradburn takes over in all three formats after the county used three different coaches in 2023.

Australian star Marnus Labuschagne is set to arrive in early May but it is hoped he will stay most of the summer.

Pakistani paceman Mir Hamza is due to play in April and May.

Hamza worked with Bradburn in his spell as head coach of Pakistan, where the 57 year old Kiwi was also previously fielding coach, having been head coach of Scotland and Northern Districts in New Zealand.

He will aim to improve on Glamorgan's fifth place in Division Two of the Championship under Matthew Maynard, in a season which saw the county draw all its four-day matches apart from a win and a loss against Worcestershire.

Bradburn played alongside Maynard briefly for Northern Districts, and has discussed the job with his predecessor.

His appointment as head coach is the first from outside Wales since Matthew Mott, now England white-ball coach, left the position in 2013.

Glamorgan have played just one season in the top flight in 25 years of the two division system.

"We're not comfortable being in division two, and it's important for the players to know that, we've set out sights on winning division one at some stage during this era. We've got in place some clear brands to win in all three formats," said Bradburn.

But Glamorgan have lost Australian all-rounder Michael Neser to Hampshire, as well as captain David Lloyd to Derbyshire, while Andrew Salter retired.

The other principal arrival is former England spinner Mason Crane, on a year's loan from Hampshire.

While the batting looks strong, Bradburn hopes his newcomers will help tackle the challenge of bowling sides out twice with the red ball.

"Mir is a wonderful person and a very skilful cricketer, he'll fit into this team and we can look forward to some real craft. He's not going to threaten with Waqar Younis-type pace, but he's a very skilful man and an excellent team man," he explained to BBC Sport Wales.

"(Crane's wrist spin) is a skill set we didn't have, to add someone of Mason's quality and to offer him a new lease of life. We intend to win by taking 20 wickets which is something we haven't be able to do in recent times."

So how will the gruelling nature of the county circuit compare with his previous jobs?

"It's a massive difference, to really shape Glamorgan into a new era of success and bring that international experience after a wonderful opportunity to coach Pakistan, I feel blessed as a coach," Bradburn enthused.

"All the players have different needs, they all need a cuddle and a kick, sometimes in the same day."

Glamorgan have handed the Championship captain's role to the experienced Sam Northeast.

"Last year we played a lot of good cricket, but we're going to have to risk losing at times to win more games and get ourselves up the table," said Northeast.

"We're going to have to be a bit smarter with the way we want to get 20 wickets and at home we're going to have to be more experimental in the pitches. We're going to have to change mentality, go out and put ownership on the game and trust the bowlers to get the job done."

Kiran Carlson, who has been in charge of three One Day Cup campaigns and covered for the injured Lloyd across other formats, is now officially in charge of T20 as well.

The county have not qualified for the knockout stages of the Blast since 2017, and a depleted squad fell away badly in 2023 after winning four of their first five matches.

"Sam and me have talked about it and we both think about the game in a very similar way, so we'll be supporting each other in the red and white ball stuff," said Carlson.

"T20 will be a massive aim for us, we've got to have that ambition to get into a quarter-final initially and then push from there. Last year there were signs of some stuff, but with injuries and fatigue, the same guys having to play, we fell off a bit."

In the absence of a trip overseas, and with wet conditions hindering time in the middle, Glamorgan's pre-season action is limited to the usual three-day friendly against the students of Cardiff UCCE starting on Easter Sunday.

They begin their official Championship campaign against Middlesex at Lord's on Friday 5 April, with South Africa's Colin Ingram, now living in Wales, set to take the overseas batter role.

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