Maher return boosts Glamorgan

Jimmy Maher is returning to Glamorgan in an attempt to bolster the side following the news that Steve James will miss the rest of the season.

Glamorgan had bucked the trend by only signing one overseas player for the summer, a move owing more to financial necessity than on-field strategy, but James's injury has led to a rethink. Maher, 29, was instrumental in Glamorgan's promotion from the National League Division Two in 2001.

Maher will arrive in the UK on Sunday week (July 6) once the formalities of him getting a work-permit are completed, to join up with fellow Australian Mike Kasprowicz. He has signed a one-and-a-half year contract.

"With Steve James' injury there was discussion of whether we needed to look elsewhere and Jimmy's name obviously came up," John Derrick, Glamorgan's coach, told BBC Wales Sport. "Our main concern was Australia's one-day series in Bangladesh, but when Jimmy didn't make the squad our chairman said go ahead and get him. The money has come from somewhere."

Maher admitted to being surprised by the approach. "I know how strongly Glamorgan feel about promoting their own players and I was aware from the conversations I'd had with the Club that they'd been reluctant to sign a second overseas player," he said. "I actually applaud that stance but a change in circumstances has opened a door for me and it's an opportunity I didn't want to miss. I loved my year in Wales in 2001 and have followed the players and kept in very close contact with a number of people there over the past couple of years."