A BIT of arrogance in the dressing-room from Sourav Ganguly may be just what Glamorgan need to kick-start their season.
That's the view of club coach John Derrick who, along with skipper Robert Croft, interviewed the India skipper in London this week ahead of his appointment yesterday as the county's second overseas player (reported in later editions of the Argus).
Ganguly was over here visiting relatives having been banned for six one-day internationals for India's slow over-rate in their series against Pakistan.
It is that ban, which means he is unlikely to be required for India's summer training camp, that prompted Glamorgan to sign him in preference to compatriot VVS Laxman.
"The fact that by some he is seen as arrogant was one reason Robert Croft and I went up to meet him," said Derrick.
"At the end of the day we have just got to manage that. We are in a desperate situation and it might take a bit of arrogance to get everybody kick-started again.
"We've told him what we are looking for in the championship and in one-day cricket and in terms of passing on his experience and he is happy with that.
"He seemed very relaxed when we spoke and with the ban hanging over his head is desperate to play cricket again.
"He has been one of India's greatest captains and is a world class batsman.
"His knowledge of the game and how to deal with spin in particular will be of benefit to both the younger and experienced players.
"Matthew Elliott, for example, when he heard the news, immediately said it would be great to get Ganguly's views on things.
"His figures say everything about his quality. He averages 41 in Tests and one-day internationals which is superb.
"Most of his success as a batsman has come at the top of the order, so that's something we'll have to look at, though it's likely he'll bat for us at five."
Skipper Robert Croft said of Ganguly (he'll make his debut in the championship against Sussex next Wednesday): "He will be a great asset and will be looked up to in the dressing-room."
But Derrick acknowledges Ganguly alone cannot save Glamorgan's season and ensure First Division County Championship survival.
"We've had enough chats over the past couple of weeks and the lads are determined to fight for each other," he said.
"They realise they have got us into a bit of a hole and that they have to get us out of it. It would be nice to start straight away with a win over Worcestershire in the totesport League on Friday."
Glamorgan are likely to change their batting order for that floodlit game, perhaps reinstating Matthew Elliott as opener, while young Panteg allrounder Adam Harrison is likely to play if Alex Wharf fails a fitness test on his injured side tomorrow.
"We've missed Matthew Maynard massively and that's the reason we put Elliott down at five for his experience," said Derrick, but maybe we'll look at that again.
"If Alex is not fit, Adam would come into contention. He's only 19, but he's been around for quite a while, played cricket for England (at all junior levels) and there has to come a time when he is given a chance.
"If it doesn't come on Friday it will come in the next few weeks."
Glamorgan's match against Worcestershire will be the first under their new floodlights which were unveiled during the rained-off game against Essex in April
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