Billy Davies took a wicket with his first-ever delivery in county cricket, against Surrey at The Oval in 1957. Coming on as first change, the former pupil of Barry Boys School had Tom Clark caught in the gully by Jim Pressdee. At the time, the feat of a wicket with a maiden ball had only been achieved once before by a Glamorgan bowler – Jack Johns against Somerset at Cardiff during 1922.

Whilst pleased at this exalted entry in Glamorgan’s history, Billy was primarily a batsman who in 1953 had made his debut for the Welsh county, chiefly on the back of some decent scores for Barry and the county’s 2^nd XI, with Billy opening the batting with Gilbert Parkhouse against Warwickshire at Edgbaston in late August.

However, Billy’s development as a county cricketer was abruptly halted by his National Service in Germany and he did not re-appear for Glamorgan until 1957.The season saw him open the batting, once again, with Parkhouse as well as with Wilf Wooller, and he registered his maiden Championship fifty against Kent at Gravesend.

Billy struggled with injuries in the next few seasons and at the end of the 1960 season he opted for greater security outside professional cricketer as he left the Glamorgan staff to take up a job with Refuge Assurance. Nevertheless he continued to play for Barry, as well as the Hill`s Plymouth club in Merthyr, in addition to appearing for Wales against the International Cavaliers at Colwyn Bay in 1969.

DAVIES, William George

Born – Barry, 3^rd July 1936.

Died – Llandough Hospital, 17th July 2022.

Best performances for Glamorgan:

In first-class cricket – 64 v Somerset at Bath, 1960; 2/23  v Warwickshire at Edgbaston, 1960.

	M	I	NO	RUNS	AV	100	50	CT	ST
First-class	32	58	0	674	11.62	–	2	14	–

	Balls	M	R	W	AV	5wI	10wM
First-class	1312	50	646	16	40.37	–	–