Lives in Cricket No 22 - Jack Mercer

34 took a dramatic twist with the last six wickets tumbling for just 24 runs. Jack started the procession as he trapped the West Indian leg-before with one of his newly honed slower balls. Frank Ryan then claimed three victims in quick succession, before Jack polished off the tail to give Glamorgan their first-ever victory over a touring team as great celebrations began and continued long into the night. It appeared there were still a few hangovers the following week at the Arms Park when Wales met Ireland over three days, 36 and the home bowlers gave a rather lacklustre performance as the visitors rattled up 418. In Wales’ second innings Jack shared a gallant eighth-wicket stand of 108 with Norman Riches, with Jack riding his luck as he was dropped twice before eventually being caught on the leg-side boundary having struck 71 in even time. This was Jack’s final match during his qualifying period and on 15 August 1923 he made his Championship debut for Glamorgan, against Leicestershire at Aylestone Road. Then, in the final game of the summer, against Hampshire at the Arms Park, he came close to posting a maiden fifty for his adopted county, blasting a quickfire 48 during which he lofted one ball into the pavilion enclosure for six, before smashing five other fours. His regular availability, and the progress of several youngsters, meant that Glamorgan could look forward with much more optimism to life as a first-class county, and in his end of season review, ‘Nomad’ echoed the upbeat mood, commenting how ‘all things considered, I think that Glamorgan have done just as well as they could have been expected to do, and the standard of play has been immeasurably improved. … Glamorgan’s fortunes look like taking a decided upward turn in 1924.’ 37 Cyril Walters, an eighteen-year-old from Neath Grammar School, was one of the talented youngsters who progressed under Bowley’s tutelage into the first eleven. For a club which had relied so much on older players, the presence of a fresh-faced teenager was a welcome addition. It also took by surprise some of the officials at away grounds, so much so that in the match at The Oval, the Surrey stewards could not quite believe that someone so young was actually playing, and they refused to allow Walters into the pavilion. Walters politely pleaded with them that he was a member of the Glamorgan team, but he was only let in after Johnnie Clay had been summoned downstairs from the dressing-rooms. ‘Yes, I know he’s very young,’ Clay told the officious steward, ‘but he’s in my team, and he’s playing here today … so please let him in!’ Early years with Glamorgan 36 Although it had many of the trappings of a first-class fixture it was not so assessed by the authorities at the time. 37 Western Mail , 5 September 1923.