Lives in Cricket No 22 - Jack Mercer

59 he became the first Welshman to captain England in a Test match, leading out the side at Trent Bridge for the opening Test of the Ashes series. By that time, Maurice Turnbull – the other bright recruit to Glamorgan cricket – had also won Test honours, although wags suggested that his elevation was due to his efforts with the bat for Cambridge University rather than his runs for Glamorgan. After hearing these comments, it must have felt to Jack and several others in Glamorgan’s ranks with aspirations of playing for England, that the only way to win Test honours was to play for another side. As the years went by, and other bowlers got the nod from the England selectors, it would have been very understandable if Jack’s mind had gone back to Gilligan’s comments, however informal and jovial, during the spring of 1927, suggesting a return to Sussex. Had he followed Walters’ example and departed, it would have been another grievous blow for the Welsh county and Glamorgan’s supporters were extremely grateful that the lion-hearted bowler remained loyal to his adopted county. Swansea-by-the-sea