Alan Jones

Alan Jones joined the Glamorgan staff in 1955 and by the time he retired in 1983 he had scored 36,049 first-class runs in 645 matches. A left handed, old school opening batsman he played once for England against a Rest of the World XI, but didn’t do himself justice. He scored a thousand runs in every season from 1961 to 1983 and scored 52 first-class centuries.

He was awarded his Glamorgan cap in 1962 and was granted a benefit season in 1972 (£10,000) and a Testimonial season in 1980 (£35,000). He was captain of the Welsh county in 1974 and 1976-78 and one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1978.

He scored 161 not out against the West Indies at Swansea in 1966, 99 in the famous win over Australia at Swansea in 1968 and a career best 204* against Hampshire in 1980 at the age of 41. With West Indies star Roy Fredericks he helped post a record opening stand of 330 against Northamptonshire at Swansea in 1972. He also scored Glamorgan’s first Sunday League century in 1978 with an unbeaten 110 against Gloucestershire at Cardiff.

He helped Glamorgan win the County Championship title in 1969, captained the side in the 1976 Gillette Cup final against Middlesex at Lord’s and was awarded an MBE for his service to Welsh cricket in 1982. He took over as Glamorgan coach after his final championship game in 1983 and remained as Director of Coaching until retiring in 1998. Much of his career was spent playing in the same Glamorgan side as his wicketkeeping brother, Eifion Jones.

Alan Jones (cricketer) Born in Velindre on 4 November, 1938