Lives in Cricket No 1 - Allan Watkins

Chapter Four Called Up For England Sixth in 1946 and ninth the next year, the Glamorgan players had no reason for lofty aspirations as they assembled for the start of the 1948 season. This was to be remembered as the summer in which Don Bradman’s all-conquering Australians would hold centre stage, but from its earliest weeks it was also the year in which Wilfred Wooller’s Glamorgan would set the pace in the County Championship. With seven victories and just one loss in their first nine championship matches, Glamorgan emerged as the early leaders, but for Allan the runs were flowing less freely than in the hot summer of 1947. An early century at Worcester was followed by nine innings before he next passed fifty. But there was now 35 Pre-season nets, 1948. Allan with (l to r) Jim Eaglestone, Norman Hever and Phil Clift