MARK Wallace intends to be first port of call for Jacques Rudolph after getting over the disappointment of losing the Glamorgan captaincy to the South African.
Glamorgan get their season up and running against Leicestershire at Grace Road on Sunday and it will be the 33-year-old former Proteas batsman leading them out of the pavilion.
Wallace, 33, admits that the decision to demote him to vice-captain initially stung but he remains a pivotal figure at the Swalec Stadium.
And the wicket-keeper from Abergavenny knows that his experience will be vital for a young side attempting to improve on a 2014 campaign that saw them finish second from bottom in Division Two.
"I was a little bit disappointed but if you detach yourself from it then you can see that it was the right decision," said Wallace, who first captained the county in 2012.
"I did it for three years and things probably needed to be freshened up. Jacques was brilliant with us last year and will be a fantastic captain, he's the right guy to take us forward.
"Although I was disappointed it's water under the bridge. Captaincy is a tough role and if you look at the time spans of those who have done the job through the years it has usually been two to three seasons because it does take a lot out of you.
"I am finding now that I've got more time on my hands to spend on my own game and to relax. There are rigours that are now Jacques problem!
"I am vice-captain and still have a leadership role. As well as trying to play as well as I can I want to help him as much as I can because I know from experience what a tough job it can be."
Wallace, who has played in 215 consecutive Championship matches, will be hoping to pass a notable milestone at Grace Road – the left-hander needs just 17 more runs to pass 10,000 in first-class cricket.
"It's great and something that I will be very proud of. It's a long time since I scored my first run off Andy Caddick in 1999," he said.
"To get to 10,000 will be fantastic but when you've played for a long time these things come around.
"It will be great for those who have helped me along the way and put up with the bad shots that I have played.
"I am sure my father will think that if I can get to 10,000 then the endless hours that I made him throw balls at me at Abergavenny Cricket Club or in the living room, smashing ornaments, will be worth it."
Glamorgan have signed Nottinghamshire fast bowler Andy Carter on a month's loan to cover for injured Australian pace bowler Michael Hogan.
Carter will be available for the games against Leicestershire, Surrey and Derbyshire while Hogan is aiming to return in early May after hurting a hamstring playing for Western Australia.
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