MICHAEL Hogan could not have experienced a better start to captaincy as Glamorgan defeated Durham at Swansea last week to gain their first Specsavers County Championship win of the season, writes Ed Bevan.

The 36-year-old Australian seamer took an impressive 5 for 49 in Durham’s first innings and seven wickets in the game.

But he rejected the suggestion that that his leadership inspired was key to achieving that first win.

“I hope not, as I have always given the same effort and commitment, and, as a senior player during the past couple of years, have always offered advice and been closely involved in the game,” he said.

Hogan enjoyed the experience but was also grateful for the help of head coach Robert Croft and other senior players gave him during the game.

“You could not have a better advisor than Crofty regarding field placing,” he said. “Especially when Andrew Salter was bowling.”

Hogan, who will captain the Championship team until the end of the season, also gave an insight as to why the batting order was changed during the fourth innings run chase on the final day.

“We kept our left handers back for various reasons,” he explained.

“Will Bragg, our number three batsman, moved down to eight in case we lost quick wickets and had to defend and play for the draw with only the tail to come.

“Colin Ingram dropped two places down the order, as we knew their left arm spinner would come on early, and target the rough just outside the left hander’s off stump with the ball relatively new and hard.

“It worked for us as Colin came in to score a rapid 42, and share a partnership of 73 for the fifth wicket.

“Chris Cooke, another fast scorer, coming in at seven was another bonus, especially as their spinners were tiring.”

Glamorgan’s batting has improved since Ingram and Cooke batted together throughout the final day against Nottinghamshire to secure a draw in a game the visitors appeared certain of winning.

Since then the batsmen have showed more responsibility.

Hogan says: “We have planned on how to approach each innings.

“After a poor first innings performance against Notts, the batsmen were told in no uncertain terms that it was not acceptable and a blueprint was set for the future.”

Glamorgan are away to Worcester at New Road from Friday morning.

“They have plenty of quality players,” said Hogan. “They were by far the better team when they beat us by eight wickets earlier in the season, but we have improved since then and are up for the challenge”.

The visitors will select from the same squad as for the Durham game.

Promising young seamer and leading wicket taker Lukas Carey, who was rested for the Swansea game, is likely to return.

Glamorgan Squad: M. Hogan, J. Rudolph, N. Selman, W. Bragg, C. Ingram, A. Donald, D. Lloyd, C. Cooke, A. Salter, K. Carlson, M. De Lange, T. Van Der Gugten, L. Carey.