100 Years Ago: 2 October 1924

Glamorgan’s breakthrough season

In their fourth season of County Championship cricket, Glamorgan at last could be seen to be making progress, to their own great encouragement and to the good of the Championship itself.  Their first three seasons had brought them a total of five victories; in 1924 they recorded five victories in the one season.  Part of the reason was that they now have a more settled team, with the qualification of more imported professional players, with the opening batsman Tom Abel and wicket-keeper Dennis Sullivan, both from Surrey, now becoming part of the team.  Several of the older amateurs now passed into retirement, having done their part in building up a championship team.

Glamorgan beat Derbyshire twice, and Lancashire, Leicestershire and Somerset once each.  In their first match against Lancashire they bowled out Lancashire for 49, only to be dismissed themselves for 22, and went on to lose the match.  But when Lancashire came to Swansea, perhaps rather complacent about their opponents, Glamorgan shocked them to their first defeat of the season.  Unfortunately they suffered even more than most counties from rain, and the drainage at the Cardiff Arms Park ground in particular was found badly wanting.

Glamorgan’s success was almost entirely due to their bowling and fielding, and their bowling success mostly due to the former Hampshire left-arm spinner, Ryan.  He is a fine spinner of the ball, and would surely reach the top if he had the cricketing brain of a Wilfred Rhodes.  He is also handicapped by his temperament, as he tends to go to pieces mentally on a bad day or when the batsmen start to attack him successfully.  His best support came from the former Lancashire bowler, Spencer, who showed the determination and fighting spirit that Ryan lacks and never gave up.  They were supported by much superb fielding, and Sullivan proved a brilliant wicket-keeper, who had the misfortune at Surrey to understudy Herbert Strudwick.  Clay did a fine job in his first season as captain.

The batting was the side’s main weakness, with only Riches returning a good record — but he was only available for eight matches.  Bates was the best of the rest, but there is hope for the future in the two very talented young amateurs, Walters and Turnbull.

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