MARK Wallace spent 14 seasons standing up to the stumps when Robert Croft was bowling and the wicket-keeper believes the former spinner is the perfect man to take the county forward.

The ex-England man has taken over the reins at the SSE Swalec Stadium after being Toby Radford's assistant for the past two years.

Glamorgan held their pre-season media day in the capital yesterday and among all those that lined up for the team photo, Croft remains the face that the man on the street would recognise.

The 45-year-old is a Glamorgan great, a former international and a Sky Sports pundit and Wallace is confident he will be a success in the latest addition to his impressive CV.

"He wants to be Robert Croft, head coach rather than Robert Croft, England off spinner," said the 34-year-old from Abergavenny.

"Crofty will still have people wanting his autograph and will still have press asking about him at media days but after being a very successful player and now wants to be a very successful coach.

"He is also Robert Croft, a Welsh cricketing legend. He knows the club and the culture, which you don't necessarily get if you come in from the outside.

"We've had some good coaches in the past but Crofty does bring a different element and has been at the club over the past 30 years. He is part of the fixtures and the fittings, he knows what makes Glamorgan tick and importantly what doesn't.

"He made the transition to coaching pretty quickly – he was taking the lift up (to the changing room) from the ground floor when he was still playing! – but still has some surprises for us.

"Crofty has his own ideas. How long it will take to implement them who knows, but he has been at the club for a long time and knows how things work so it will probably be quicker than most."

Wallace is entering his 18th season with Glamorgan so is used to dispatching pre-season questions like juicy half-volleys. He is enthusiastic yet realistic.

"This a great time of year for everybody – nobody has played a bad shot or dropped a catch. You could go to any press day around the country before the start of the season and get the same answers," said Wallace, a trained journalist himself.

"Everybody is full of enthusiasm, has forgotten any bad shots that they have played and thinks it will be best season ever.

"That optimism is what pushes sport forward and we are no different. We have supplemented the squad with some good signings, have prepared well and we are hopeful for the season."

Glamorgan take on Cardiff MCCU at the SSE Swalec Stadium on Monday before opening up their Division Two campaign against Leicestershire in the capital a week on Sunday.