Marnus Labuschagne's absence means more pressure on Glamorgan's top order

BOB WILLIS TROPHY PREVIEW: Australian Labuschagne made a huge impression in 2019 but will not be joining the club in 2020 as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak

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Ins: Alex Horton

Outs: Jeremy Lawlor, Kazi Szymanski (both released), Craig Meschede (retired)

Fixtures: August 1 - Somerset (a), August 8 - Worcestershire (a), August 15 - Gloucestershire (h), August 22 - Northamptonshire (a), September 6 - Warwickshire (h)

Remind me what happened last year?

A season both successful and disappointing in equal measure. Glamorgan were unfancied to begin with but found themselves in genuine promotion contention for the vast majority of the campaign, only to miss out cruelly in the final embers of a long season.

The turning point came before a ball had even been bowled, in the shape of Marnus Labuschagne. The Australian played 10 games, churning out 1,114 runs at an average of 65.52, with five hundreds and five fifties – all in the space of just 18 innings.

His departure was offset by West Indies opener Kraigg Brathwaite, who himself added a century of his own. That they ultimately missed out on a spot in the top three was a real shame, given how much had gone into their initial ascent.

Another fine year for the evergreen Michael Hogan – the 39-year-old Australian took 46 wickets at 21.17 apiece. Among the younger crop of players, Dan Douthwaite enjoyed a promising breakthrough summer with bat and ball, while Billy Root, Nick Selman and David Lloyd all passed 650 runs.

What’s happened over the winter?

Labuschagne enjoyed Cardiff so much – and the feeling was very much mutual – that he has re-signed on a two-year deal. He will not return to Wales this year as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, but he has extended his deal with the county until the end of the 2022 season, which will ensure he plays out his two-year agreement.

“It's great news and shows that Marnus wants to spend a period of time here, so we're looking forward to having him whenever cricket gets back to normal,” Glamorgan director of cricket Mark Wallace told BBC Sport Wales.

“Marnus really enjoyed his time at Glamorgan and saw the benefits that he got out of it as a cricketer, he loved his time in Wales so both he and Glamorgan want it to be a long-term association.

“It's an old-fashioned set-up to keep an overseas player (with a UK county) for a long period of time.

“We won't have him every game for those two years, but the Australians don't tend to play a lot in the (British) summer unless it's an Ashes series, and we'll have to navigate that and make sure we get adequate replacements in when he's not here.”

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Who’s arrived and who’s left?

Labuschagne aside, perhaps the most intriguing dealing done by Glamorgan in recent months comes in the shape of Alex Horton, a 16-year-old wicketkeeper now tied to a five-year contract with his home county.

The terms of his deal will allow him to complete the first year on a developmental basis, allowing him to complete his GCSEs and train with the first team, before becoming a fully contracted Glamorgan player in 2021.

He became one of the youngest players in the club’s history by making his second-team bow in June 2019, making 58 in his first knock.

He made his South Wales Premier Cricket League debut for Newbridge as a 13-year-old. Wallace added: “We wouldn’t be signing him to a contract if we didn’t think he had the ability to play first-team cricket in the not-so-distant future, but that doesn’t mean it will be this season or next season.

“We won’t hold him back because of his age – if he deserves to play he will but if he needs that extra stage of development he’ll have that opportunity.”

Craig Meschede has been forced to retire due to a shoulder injury.

Who will be the key men in 2020?

In the absence of Labuschagne, the pressure on Root, Selman and Lloyd to replicate and improve on their 2019 returns will only increase, while Charlie Hemphrey would like to add to a solid campaign with a three-figure score; he made five half centuries last year but never passed 75.

Hogan will lead a talented bowling attack once again; Marchant de Lange will want to better his 26 wickets at a lofty average of 36.53.

What can we expect from this team this season?

There was more to Glamorgan’s efforts last year than Labuschagne, so his absence – while likely to be keenly felt – should not detract from an improving core.

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