Lives in Cricket No 1 - Allan Watkins

the most of them. Hampshire’s Leo Harrison remembers the carnage they wrought, as his side capsized for 94 and 116. “They were good bowlers, no doubt,” he says, “but in those days batsmen were not very good at playing off spinners, thrusting their bats well in front of the pads with no give in the hands.” Nine wickets in the match for the venerable Clay and seven for Muncer ensured victory by an innings and 115 runs. There were no points for Surrey and none for Yorkshire. Glamorgan were champions. Wilf Wooller had no doubt where his team’s strength lay that summer, what made it greater than the sum of its parts: “We are aware we cannot compete, for instance, with Middlesex in batting or Derbyshire in bowling. But in fielding we give first to no side.” The skipper’s emphasis on the importance of fielding enabled every player to feel that he was always contributing something to the team effort. Moreover, the Glamorgan skipper also spoke of encouraging each member of his side to study tactics. “Cricket is a game requiring thought and brain. Any thinking player may see something a captain has missed. It detracts nothing from a captain’s discipline to accept sound advice.” Not all found it easy to make suggestions. “Wilf wasn’t short in choking you off,” says Allan. “Willie Jones was Called Up For England 43 The 1948 County Champions. Back row (l to r): Willie Jones, Phil Clift, Jim Pleass, Allan Watkins, Hugh Griffiths, Len Muncer, Norman Hever, Gilbert Parkhouse, Jim Eaglestone. Seated (l to r): Haydn Davies, Emrys Davies, Wilfred Wooller, Arnold Dyson, George Lavis