
Photo Credit – Glamorgan Cricket Archives.
Alan Jones scored over 40,000 runs to his name in all forms of the game for the Welsh county, and no batsman is likely to surpass his record of 34,056 first-class runs, plus 7,420 in all limited overs games.
During his career from 1957 until 1983, Alan passed a thousand runs on 23 consecutive occasions, and scored what at the time was a club record of 52 first-class centuries. For much of his career his younger brother Eifion was Glamorgan’s wicket-keeper with the pair also sharing a stand of 230 against Sussex at Hove in 1968.
Alan had first played in Glamorgan`s middle order, before moving up to open the batting with Gilbert Parkhouse during the early 1960`s. In 1962 Alan recorded his maiden century against Sussex at Hastings, and in the following year hit hundreds in both innings of the match against Somerset at Glastonbury. His long list of outstanding innings include 161*against the West Indies at Swansea in 1966, 99 against Australia during the famous victory at Swansea in 1968, and a career best 204* against Hampshire at Basingstoke in 1980, at the age of 41.
He also shared in a record opening partnership of 330 with Roy Fredericks against Northamptonshire at Swansea in 1972, and during 1978 Alan also hit Glamorgan`s first ever Sunday League century, with 110* against Gloucestershire at Cardiff. In addition, Alan led Glamorgan between 1976 and 1978, and captained them against Middlesex in the Gillette Cup Final in 1977 as the Welsh county made their first-ever appearance in a one-day final at Lord’s.
Alan`s prolific run scoring was based on a solid technique, and almost unwavering concentration. Given his fine record at county level, it was surprising that he was constantly overlooked by the England selectors. In 1970 Alan was chosen to appear in the series with the Rest of the World, which at the time was considered to be worthy of Test status. He was presented with an England cap and blazer, but the series was later stripped of Test status.
In 1982 Alan received the MBE in the Queen`s Honours List in recognition of his loyal efforts for the Welsh county. He played his final Championship match against Hampshire at Southampton at the end of the 1983 season, before taking over as the club`s coach. He remained as Director of Coaching until retiring in 1998 after a lifetime of loyal and wholehearted service to the Welsh county. His son Andrew also played for Glamorgan during 1993.
JONES, Alan
Born – Velindre, 4th November 1938.
Best performances for Glamorgan:
In first-class cricket – 204* v Hampshire at Basingstoke, 1978; 1/41 v Worcestershire at Worcester, 1970.
In List A cricket – 124* v Warwickshire at Edgbaston, 1976; 3/21 v Northamptonshire at Wellingborough, 1975.
M | I | NO | RUNS | AV | 100 | 50 | CT | ST | |
First-class | 610 | 1102 | 71 | 34056 | 33.03 | 52 | 186 | 276 | – |
List A | 287 | 283 | 21 | 7156 | 27.31 | 2 | 42 | 74 | – |
Balls | M | R | W | AV | 5wI | 10wM | |
First-class | 353 | 15 | 249 | 1 | 249.00 | – | – |
List A | 33 | 0 | 27 | 3 | 9.00 | – | – |