Croft's fuel-less fans fear

Croft is urging his team-mates on to one last effort

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Robert Croft fears the current lack of petrol in south Wales will deter fans from cheering on the Welsh county in their vital County Championship Division Two match against Middlesex on Wednesday.

"It is not the greatest preparation and we have to sort it out quickly," he said.

"This game ranks as highly as any cup final and is of huge importance.

"If you look at Glamorgan over the years we have always played better when we have a big crowd," the off spinner added.

The key is to score enough runs in the first innings, but the ball is in our court

  Robert Croft

Croft himself has been affected by the crisis.

He lives near Llanelli and faces a daily 100 mile round trip to commute to Cardiff. The likelihood now is that Croft and other west Wales based players will stay with colleagues in Cardiff or be put up in a hotel.

The disruption overshadows the vital game against bottom of the table Middlesex.

Glamorgan, currently second in the table, must win to give themselves a chance of promotion.

Croft remained upbeat, however.

"If someone had offered us this position at the start of the year we would have grabbed it with both hands," he said.

"The key is to score enough runs in the first innings, but the ball is in our court, " he continued.

Glamorgan, fuel crisis aside, have been hit by a number of injuries in the latter stage of the season.

Fitness

Skipper Matthew Maynard has had to deputise behind the stumps following injuries to Adrian Shaw and his deputy, England under 19 keeper Mark Wallace.

Seamers Steve Watkin, Darren Thomas and Alex Wharf have also been struggling.

"There will be a few fitness sessions on Wednesday, but we need one big last effort for Glamorgan and Wales," Croft urged.

"Now it is all on - if ever there was a season that would turn me to smoking it is this one, but I've managed to steer clear of the fags," he joked.