Cricket: Glamorgan set to open contract talks with Michael Hogan

Glamorgan are set to open contract extension talks with Australian fast bowler Michael Hogan this week.

The Western Australia seamer has proved a revelation in his first season with Glamorgan as he approaches 50 county championship wickets.

Hogan has another year on his current deal and chief executive Alan Hamer wants him at the county after 2014.

“I am keen to meet Michael this week and have a chat about tying him down for a longer period,” said Hamer.

Hogan qualifies for Glamorgan as a domestic player because he holds a British passport.

The fast bowler has been boosted this week by the news he can now play for his state side again after a ruling was overturned by Cricket Australia.

This had previously stopped cricketers from playing in the domestic game in both countries but that has now been relaxed.

“That would have helped if it had come in last year because we could have had Michael starting in 2012 and got the extra year out of him,” said Hamer.

“But this is good news for Glamorgan and Michael as long as he is not overplayed and it will be up to him whether he plays for Western Australia.

“He made a very big decision to give up playing cricket in Australia to come here.

“That was a major choice for him and we are delighted he did because he has been excellent for us.”

The new rule could also open the way for Glamorgan to sign former opener Mark Cosgrove who also holds a British passport but has previously turned out for the Welsh county as an overseas player.

“There are not many players with a British passport and Mark Cosgrove is one of the more high profile ones,” said Hamer.

“Mark has been mentioned following this new ruling and this is something that we will consider.

“We have said in the past we would have liked him to use play for us as a domestic player so we know his qualities.”

The importance of these type of players could become important if Glamorgan only recruit one overseas player next season to replace Marcus North.

The Twenty20 has given counties the chance to sign a second overseas player just for that tournament.

But the change in the schedule next summer with the T20 competition running over a longer period of time mainly on Friday evenings rather than a month block will have an impact on the recruitment of overseas players.

“We are in the market for a quality overseas but that is not a decision that will be rushed,” added Hamer.

“We have to consider the Twenty20 competition next year which runs throughout the summer rather than in a concerted bloc as it does now.

“I have a meeting in Lord’s next week to determine the schedule and that will be very important for us.

“I don’t see us being able to afford a player just to be involved in a T20 game one day a week.

“That makes who you recruit even more vital because they could even end up being the only overseas player.”