O for overseas aid

Hung out to dry without a proper overseas player for two-thirds of the season one could only feel sorry for the Welsh county who tried their hearts out but were always going to come up short against opponents who sometimes included half a dozen players not qualified for England. Their stand against the Kolpaks ended in a succession of overwhelming defeats which are not good for youngsters.

Confidence and morale are such fragile things in this game that some of them may never recover. John Derrick, the coach, was also left fuming when David Harrison, the talented quick bowler, returned from the Academy with his action gone to pot; 27 wickets at over 57 runs apiece told its own story.

Derrick is not the only county coach to rage at the tinkering that can go on with young players in the winter and Glamorgan are relieved that none of their players is on the list for the coming months. Robert Croft led the side courageously, getting through 577 overs of toil, nearly 200 more than anyone else in the side, but he too was saddened that the committee did not seek out an overseas player with more commitment than Sourav Ganguly. In his five Championship matches he was a poor substitute for the injured Matt Elliott.

A threatened extraordinary general meeting was held at bay by eleventh-hour talks but it was one of the unhappiest seasons on record for the Glamorgan players and members. They have put a brave face on inadequacies in the past and come up smiling. This was something different.

Player of the YearDavid Hemp 1,369 Championship runs at 44.61, nearly 450 more than anyone else in the side.
High Alex Wharf's 11 for 121 in the win over Gloucestershire. Low Saying goodbye to Matthew Maynard.