Alan Wilkins was a member of the 1977 Glamorgan side that played in the Gillette Cup Final against Middlesex at Lord`s. His lively left-arm seam bowling also played a key role in Glamorgan`s progress to their first appearance in the final of a one-day competition at Lord`s.
After some excellent performances for Cardiff CC, Alan joined the county`s full-time staff during 1977 after completing his studies at Loughborough University, and he soon proved to be a most effective and accurate change bowler, or new ball partner to the experienced Malcolm Nash. In the quarter-final against Surrey at Sophia Gardens, the young bowler had an analysis of 12-3-33-2, dismissing Test players Graham Roope and Younis Ahmed during a controlled spell of accurate left-arm seam. He also excelled in the semi-final against Leicestershire at Swansea, with figures of 12-5-34-2, adding Brian Davison and Jack Birkenshaw to his list of victims.
1977 also proved to be his most productive season in first-class cricket for Glamorgan, with Wilkins taking 47 wickets, including five wicket hauls at Portsmouth and Worcester. In 1979 he took 6/79 against Hampshire, but he only appeared in 10 first-class matches as the Club’s management chose other bowlers and, frustrated by his lack of opportunities, Alan joined Gloucestershire for 1980.
To his delight, Alan secured a regular first team berth and claimed career best figures of 8/57 against Lancashire at Old Trafford in 1981. Alan spent much of 1982 on the sidelines, before returning to Glamorgan during 1983. He added a further 12 first-class wickets to his tally, and then retired from county cricket and emigrated to South Africa to start a new career in broadcasting.
He returned to Wales in 1989 and became a familiar face and voice on radio and television in this country. Alan has subsequently worked for STAR Sports based in Singapore with Alan presenting and commentating on a number of sports, including cricket.
WILKINS, Alan Haydn
Born – Rhiwbina, Cardiff, 22nd August 1953.
Best performances for Glamorgan:
In first-class cricket – 70 v Nottinghamshire at Worksop, 1977; 6/79 v Hampshire at Southampton, 1979.
In List A cricket – 5* and 5/17 v Worcestershire at Worcester, 1978.
| M | I | NO | RUNS | AV | 100 | 50 | CT | ST | |
| First-class | 65 | 73 | 22 | 502 | 9.84 | – | 2 | 19 | – |
| List A | 65 | 20 | 7 | 48 | 3.69 | – | – | 9 | – |
| Balls | M | R | W | AV | 5wI | 10wM | |
| First-class | 7514 | 234 | 4204 | 135 | 31.14 | 6 | – |
| List A | 2724 | 58 | 1845 | 84 | 21.96 | 2 | – |