At its meeting earlier this month, the Glamorgan Committee received an interim report from Brian Rose on the structure of Glamorgan and Welsh cricket.
After a successful playing career with the Somerset and England, in which he scored over 13,000 first class runs, including captaining the team to five one-day trophies, Brian became Somerset's Director of Cricket in 2005 and over recent seasons has overseen Somerset's progression into one of the most consistent county teams in all formats of the game.
Given his credentials, both Glamorgan and Cricket Wales believed that Brian had the skill, the experience and the unquestioned impartiality to provide an independent view of the structure of Glamorgan and Welsh cricket.
In summary, Brian's interim report endorses the key cricketing objectives contained in Glamorgan's Strategic Plan, a copy of which was circulated to members earlier this year. In particular, Brian recommends that Glamorgan should:
o place much greater emphasis on developing its own talent; and
o work more closely with Cricket Wales to oversee the development of Wales' most talented 11 to 15 year old cricketers;
In the meantime, the Committee has invited Brian to continue to advise Glamorgan on cricketing matters over the remainder of this season.
In presenting his report to the Committee, Brian was very positive about Glamorgan and Welsh cricket's potential. In particular, he noted that most of the necessary building blocks were already in place and that the partnerships with Cricket Wales, Wales Minor Counties, Cardiff MCCU and the Premier Cricket Leagues provided an opportunity to deliver sustainable improvements to the game in Wales.
Commenting on the report Barry O'Brien, the Glamorgan Chairman, said:
"We are very grateful to Brian Rose for providing the Glamorgan Committee with an independent endorsement of our Strategic Plan.
Whilst Brian has made a number of detailed recommendations, he shares the Committee's view that the key to sustainable success is to develop increased numbers of home grown talented players."
Brian Rose commented:
"In compiling my report, I have been impressed by the passion and enthusiasm displayed by all parties and their unstinting determination to transform the fortunes of Welsh Cricket. It will take hard work and a realisation about the standards needed to achieve results in a competitive environment.
I would like to thank all those that I met and I look forward to working closely with both Glamorgan and Cricket Wales over the coming months as we start to implement the agreed recommendations."
Matthew Mott, Glamorgan Cricket's Head of Elite Performance, commented on Brian's continued involvement with the Club and said:
"I welcome the Committee's decision to retain Brian's services until the end of the season.
"His extensive experience will be of significant benefit to both Glamorgan and Welsh cricket and from a personal perspective I look forward to myself and the rest of the coaching team exchanging ideas with such an experienced consultant."
