GLAMORGAN director of cricket Mark Wallace will have a swift indicator of the state of the Welsh game this season – he'll just have to look at his Newport batting average.

The 37-year-old former wicket-keeper is now a big hitter at Sophia Gardens after being appointed as Hugh Morris' successor in December.

Wallace is a Glamorgan great after making his County Championship debut at 17, playing 18 seasons in the first team and captaining the club between 2013 and 2015.

He has been brought in to turn around the first team's fortunes but there is more to his role than that.

"It's a wide-arching remit. People's perception is that it is all about the first team, but that's not the case," said Wallace, from Crickhowell.

"My role is to look at everything from first team, second team, academy, the pathway, league cricket, everything. It's wide-ranging and I am looking forward to it."

Wallace will have first-hand experience of the game below the pros after getting the green light to keep donning the whites.

After retiring in 2017 he joined Newport and he will be a part of the Spytty Park side's defence of their South Wales Premier League title.

"I am keen to keep playing because I love it. I am quite young for a director of cricket and, with respect, it's unlikely that the others would still play league cricket," said the left-hander.

"I am only 37 so I am keen to keep playing, I've loved it at Newport for a couple of years and got clearance off the league to make sure there weren't any objections.

"There might be the odd Saturday that I will have to miss with Glamorgan commitments but I am looking forward to it again.

"Part of my role is to connect with the amateur game and what better way to do that than play every week.

"I could go around and watch, doing laps of the grounds, but the playing environment gives a good idea of how things are going."

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A Glamorgan reshuffle led to Wallace replacing Hugh Morris after he left the position to concentrate on his duties as chief executive.

"I am quite young for the role – I am younger than (seamer) Michael Hogan! – but I had an accelerated path to this and while I was playing I was doing a lot of different stuff," said Wallace,

"I did a masters degree, I did four years as chairman of the PCA and then went to work for them after retiring.

"I think my experience is accelerated beyond my years and I feel that I am ready for this.

"In a way I admire Glamorgan for giving me the job, because when I went for it I thought they might go for a more stereotypical person.

"But they obviously saw something in me and now it’s time for me to repay them. It’s not going to happen overnight because there are things we need to be patient with, but I am looking forward to it."

And while the former wicket-keeper has grand plans for Welsh cricket, he recognises the importance of Matthew Maynard & Co showing signs of improvement after a nightmare 2018.

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"I have a wider remit but I understand that I get judged on first-team performances," said Wallace.

"Matt has come in as interim head coach and it was a no-brainer for this season. He has run a good programme and we have made some good signings to strengthen the batting.

"Hopefully some of the good young players that did get bows will have learnt from a tough year and will kick on.

"Last year it wasn’t just results, it was performances that weren’t up to the mark, so it’s about getting confidence back and getting some consistency.

"If we can improve then we can certainly challenge."