By Victoria Curran BBC Sport

Maynard set for farewell season

Glamorgan skipper Robert Croft has no doubt that retiring team-mate Matthew Maynard will want to leave on a high.

Maynard, 39, will end his playing career with the Welsh county at the end of this coming season.

"Matt's a high-calibre player and we'll miss two things about him; firstly he's a fantastic player and he also has vast experience," Croft said.

Maynard has already begun a coaching career as assistant with the England one-day side.

Glamorgan coach John Derek and the rest of the coaching staff will not look to fill Maynard's boots but will certainly hope to fill the gap that the batsman's departure will leave.

"Matt knows his own body and mind," Croft explained. "Everybody knows he has formed a great relationship with [England coach] Duncan Fletcher and the England set-up."

Maynard is retiring from his playing career to develop his coaching as the current batting coach of the England one-day side.

England duties call Maynard away

His season looks set to fluctuate between playing for Glamorgan and coaching England's stars.

Croft knows that he will miss the opportunity to gain some advice from an extremely experienced player next season.

But Croft has every intention of using powerful batsman Maynard to his full ability in Glamorgan's 2005 season, which starts with a friendly in Taunton on 29-30 March.