Glamorgan's new coach Richard Dawson says he is coming into a team with "high potential players".
The Welsh county ramp-up preparations for the new campaign with a three-day game against Cardiff UCCE starting Sunday, before beginning the County Championship season on Friday, 4 April.
"It's an amazing county with a rich history, and I've coached Welsh Fire so I know the city," said Dawson who was appointed in February to succeed sacked Grant Bradburn as Glamorgan coach.
"It's a squad with two recent trophy wins [in the One Day Cup] and a lot of potential, so I'm looking forward to getting started," added Dawson.
"We've got the squad to be able to get into the T20 Blast knockout stages."
- Glamorgan appoint Dawson as head coach for season
- Glamorgan sign Somerset's Bashir on loan deal
- Ex-England coach Mott returning to Glamorgan
England off-spinner Shoaib Bashir (on loan from Somerset) and Sri Lankan paceman Asitha Fernando are set to make official debuts against Leicestershire in the opening Championship Division Two match.
But seamer James Harris (calf) and all-rounder Dan Douthwaite (pectoral muscle) have joined leg-spinner Mason Crane (shoulder) on the injury list.
Doncaster-born Dawson, 44, coached Gloucestershire for five years before various roles with England and was recruited at short notice following the shock departure of Bradburn.
"We're really lucky to have Richard, he's coming straight off a spell with England but he's got brilliant experience coaching Gloucestershire and the England pathway so he'll be perfect for us this year," said director of cricket Mark Wallace.
"He's a coach who makes players better and he's got a good idea of what the squad looks like. We're also going to have some involvement with [former Glamorgan and England coach] Matthew Mott who'll help in developing our coaches, doing some work on the male and female game."
After Glamorgan finished a disappointing sixth in Division Two in 2024, Dawson is keen to emphasise progression of his players, both junior and senior, rather than setting targets for the number of wins.
"What we're looking for is progression in how we play cricket, how we play at home and being able to take [20] wickets is going to contribute to that," he reflected.
"If you can get to half-way and keep players fit, then it's about how you can push through September. Hopefully the wins will come if we do those other things."
Championship captain Sam Northeast has worked with Dawson in the England Lions set-up.
"He's pretty ...
