Australian Cricketers in Wales, The - Softcover

Andrew Hignell

9781848511002: Australian Cricketers in Wales, The

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1848511000 ISBN 13: 9781848511002

Publisher: Gomer Press, 2009

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About the Author:

Prolific cricket author and statistician, Dr Andrew Hignell has been the Glamorgan 1st XI scorer since 1982. A self-confessed cricket addict, he left his post as Head of Humanities and Geography at Wells Cathedral School in 2005 to take up his present role as full-time archivist at Glamorgan Cricket.

Review:

In 130 pages and 30 short chapters devoted to touring years, the presence of Australian cricketers in Wales is followed from the Aborigines of 1868 to the 1st Test Match of 2009. Each chapter is a thumbnail sketch with links to contemporary events, and is also a continuum of Glamorgans development as well. Apart from the famous victories of 1964 and 1968, it is a record of regular defeats. Rain saved Glamorgan on many occasions and the reviewer well remembers his soaking in the 1948 Bank Holiday Monday deluge at Swansea the venue until 1972. The 1948 Invincibles won every county game and the Test series 40. It was the end for Don Bradman who only once played at Swansea in 1938 but saw the introduction of future greats Miller, Lindwall, Harvey and Davidson. Miller cracked sixes into the Mumbles Road, Ray Lindwall ran rhythmically and bowled furiously and Neil Harvey was busily brilliant batting or fielding at cover point. These dominated the fifties. In 1961 Don Shepherd cracked 51 in 15 minutes, including six sixes, establishing a world record for the fastest fifty, then rain again saved us. 1964 and 1968 will forever live in the memories of aficionados. In 1964 Don Shepherd and Jim Presdee bowled Glam to victory and in 1968 it was Malcolm Nashs turn. This was the final era of the big crowds at Swansea. From then on, one day cricket rescheduled fixtures. Also the 1970s brought Lillee and Chapell and the hard image of Australian cricket began. Alan Watkins in 1948 was the first Glam player in an Ashes series; Gilbert Parkhouse went to Australia in 1951 and then came the long wait. In 1993 Mathew Maynard and Steve Watkin both played in the last test at the Oval and in 1997 it was the turn of Robert Croft. The book concludes with Australias one day games in Cardiff. They lost 2 of their 3 games, to New Zealand in 1999, Bangladesh amazingly in 2005 and beat Pakistan in 2001. The story is completed with the 1st Ashes Test of 2009. This publication is an ideal vade mecum to initiate discussion and settle pub arguments, and to browse through enjoyably of winter evenings. Geoff Hughes It is possible to use this review for promotional purposes, but the following acknowledgment should be included: A review from www.gwales.com, with the permission of the Welsh Books Council. Gellir defnyddio'r adolygiad hwn at bwrpas hybu, ond gofynnir i chi gynnwys y gydnabyddiaeth ganlynol: Adolygiad oddi ar www.gwales.com, trwy ganiatd Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru. -- Welsh Books Council

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