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WHEN Duncan Fletcher left Glamorgan at the end of the 1997 season after guiding them to their third championship title, it was a case of au revoir rather than goodbye and his return on a three-year contract will be universally welcomed.

Hugh Morris, Tony Cottey and Waqar Younis then formed the nucleus of an established team, but they are no longer involved in a squad determined to improve on last season's performances, when they dropped 11 championship places and failed to qualify for the First Division of the National League.

Morris departed two summers ago and, although Waqar was never likely to be retained after playing in only four championship games last year, Cottey's reluctance to sign a two-year contract and join Sussex was a decision that surprised and disappointed many.

But Matthew Maynard believes his team are well balanced and capable of challenging for another trophy this season. ``I cannot wait to skipper a squad with so many talented youngsters who can only improve on the impact they made last season,'' he said.

Maynard also eagerly awaits the arrival of Jacques Kallis - one of the world's leading all-rounders - after completing his World Cup commitments with South Africa. Kallis, who played a season with Middlesex two years ago, will also rekindle ties with Fletcher, his coach and mentor at Western Province, who recognised the player's outstanding early potential.

Before the South African's arrival, Glamorgan will again depend on Steve James - who has scored 1,500 runs in each of the past two seasons at an average of 57.23 -to launch the innings with the dependable Adrian Dale, Wayne Law or Alun Evans. Due to injuries, Glamorgan resorted to 18 opening combinations in 1997 but Law, 20, an exciting stroke-player, relished the chance to score 131 in only his second championship game last year and averaged over 40 in 11 innings.

Michael Powell, built like Andrew Flintoff and who strikes the ball almost as hard, is another highly rated young batsman who prospered during his first full season and narrowly missed selection for the England A tour. Maynard's lack of runs last year - he failed to score 1,000 for only the second time in 13 seasons - can be balanced against his unselfish approach in the interests of the team and his contribution to the progress made by young players.

He was also troubled by a groin injury which required an operation last autumn but, after leading an MCC team on a three-week tour of Kenya last month, is fully fit.

With Cottey deciding his future was on the south coast, Keith Newell moved in the opposite direction on a two-year contract. Although shorn of Waqar's cutting edge, Glamorgan's pace attack compares favourably with other counties. Steve Watkin continues to hit the seam and the stumps, Darren Thomas's 71 wickets last year earned him England A selection while Owen Parkin, Andrew Davies and Dale provided useful support.

Robert Croft's inclusion in the World Cup squad will leave Dean Cosker as Glamorgan's only spinner for the first seven championship games but, if pitches are again seamer-friendly, there will be limited opportunities for the finger spinners.

Among the younger players, Simon Jones has raw pace but has seldom been fit for the rigours of county cricket. Wicketkeeper Mark Wallace, 17, who toured New Zealand with England Under-19s during the winter, could challenge Adrian Shaw or Ismail Dawood.

Team Details & First-Class fixtures

Staff: M P Maynard*, D A Cosker, R D B Croft, A Dale, A P Davies, I Darwood, A W Evans, S P James, J H Kallis, W L Law, K Newell, O T Parkin, M J Powell, A D Shaw, S D Thomas, M A Wallace, S L Watkin. New players: Kallis (overseas, Western Province and South Africa), Newell (Sussex), Wallace. Departures: G P Butcher (released), P A Cottey (Sussex), W Younis (overseas - not renewed). Beneficiary: None.

1998 record: Championship: Joint 12th (W4, L6, D7). Axa Lge: 10th. (W7, L8, NR2). B & H Cup: Zonal stages. NatWest Trophy: 2nd rnd. First-class fixtures

April: Tue 20: Derby (Derby). Wed 28: Sussex (Cardiff) May: Frid 14: Gloucs (Cardiff). Wed 19: Oxford Univ (The Parks). Wed 26: Worcs (Worcester). June: Wed 2: Leics (Leicester). Wed 9: Middx (Cardiff). Tue 15: Kent (Canterbury). Wed 30: Hants (Swansea). July: Frid 9: Essex (Cardiff). Wed 14: Lancs (Blackpool). Frid 30: Durham (Cardiff). August: Wed 4: Surrey (Oval). Wed 18: Notts (Colwyn Bay). Tue 24: Warwickshire (Cardiff). Sept: Thur 2: Somerset, (Taunton). Wed 8: Yorks (Headingley). Wed 15: Northants (Cardiff).