Colin Ingram enjoying red-ball second-coming and refutes county criticism

HUW TURBERVILL: The South African had only played one Championship game in four years before this summer but has been in fine form for Glamorgan

Glamorgan's Colin Ingram says the county game is fine as it is and disagrees with his compatriot Kevin Pietersen's scathing assessment of it.

The South African batsman, 37, is in superb form for his county as he enjoys an unexpected red-ball renaissance.

He had played only one Championship match in four years when he was picked after Marnus Labuschagne's call-up by Australia for the tour to Sri Lanka.

Ingram has responded with 87 against Durham, 178 against Sussex and then 102 as his side chased down 332 at Worcestershire. No wonder they call him Kingram in these parts.

Glamorgan now have four wins, two draws and two defeats. They trail second-placed Middlesex by 12 points and resume their campaign on Monday at home to Nottinghamshire, looking to do the double over them. After that there are five matches to go, and they believe promotion is a real possibility.

"I played 13 years in South Africa," he told The Cricketer. "There were only six teams and it was highly competitive. I don't think you can replace the county system, though. It is so traditional, that's one of the things I love about it. I love playing at places like Somerset for a Blast game. It's a smallish ground, and they fill it week in, week out. To have so many teams is a privilege. I don't think it can really change.

"The catch net is so big, so in that way I don't really agree with Kevin's opinion, but I think he's saying it for the right reasons. He wants to see English and Welsh cricket strong. South Africa have gone back to a 15-tier system anyway, to broaden the net and catch as many players as they can."

^{Ingram has become part of the furniture at Glamorgan in recent years (Dan Mullan/Getty Images)}

On his four-day comeback, Ingram said: "To get a hundred in a winning cause at New Road is a great feeling. Those achievements always mean a lot – to fight it out and for us to score 334 in the last innings. The pitch had played up quite a bit, so it was a massive win. Billy Root's 99 not out was vital too. Over the last couple of seasons the four-day side has found a good formula. Winning a couple of games gives you extra confidence and belief.

"The 178 in the match before against Sussex was at Cardiff, and it was pretty flat. The partnership (253) with Eddie Byrom was great, to go through the different spells and sessions, putting the game-plans I wanted to into place."

Ingram has been at Glamorgan seven years now, and said: "It's come to be my cricketing home. I haven't played in South Africa for four years. I really identify with the spirit here and the team culture. It's a good family environment, and special to represent Wales to some degree. I have good friends here and I love my cricket here.

"It's been a remarkable turnaround physically after knee surgery in 2016. Everything is now great, fitness wise, I'm back to where I was four or five years ago. I can now play long formats again. I'm feeling in a great place.

"A few years ago, I thought I may only have a year or two left, but the extra training has paid off. I'm not going to put a number on the years I have left. But I love life in Cardiff."

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