Cricket Witness No 3 - The Daffodil Blooms

77 Restarting and regrouping the Cardiff ground, Johnnie waived the interval between innings and stayed out in the middle with the last man, Peter Judge. Chandra Sarwate then dismissed Judge with the second ball of the innings, with the former Middlesex bowler departing to the Arms Park pavilion with the dubious distinction of having been dismissed twice within a minute. Johnnie’s slightly eccentric idea of reversing the batting order nearly backfired as Glamorgan lost six cheap wickets before the tourists claimed the extra half-hour in search of an unexpected win. Fortunately, Wilf and Willie Jones held firm and the match ended in a draw. It was shortly after this match over the Whitsun Bank Holiday that Clay confirmed to the county’s committee that he would be standing down as captain at the end of the summer. By this stage of the season, he was more than well aware that Wilf possessed the character, spirit and nous to successfully lead Glamorgan, besides spearheading the Club in its onward developments. The veteran duly informed the committee: “to be a captain of a county side is a full-time job and I have many interests and other things to do. There is less need for me to carry on when we have a fully qualified captain in Mr. Wooller ready at hand.” 7 Soon afterwards, Wilf received a letter offering him the post of Club captain as well as Honorary Secretary at a salary of £650 per annum. He readily accepted the offer, and by the end of the summer, was already putting his mind to several improvement schemes, especially the modest infrastructure at the Arms Park. With the financial support of Sir Herbert Merrett, his former boss at Cardiff Docks, he created ‘The Seating and Nursery Fund’ which looked to provide new spectator accommodation for 1947 and beyond, plus other amenities and improved coaching facilities. It aimed to build up a fund of £10,000, and in its promotional literature Wilf wrote: “our aim is to raise money for proper coaching facilities to be provided for all young cricketers in the area so that we can build up a team composed mainly of our own players which, over time, will be able to entertain us with cricket of the highest possible class.” 8 In essence, it was another ambitious attempt to achieve Maurice’s dream of an all-Welsh XI representing Glamorgan. The foundations of a brave new club were being built by the Club’s new leader. A