Brian Evans was a hostile fast bowler who formed an effective (and very Welsh-sounding) opening bowling partnership with Jeff Jones for Glamorgan during the early 1960s.

However, their pairing was all too brief as Brian – or ‘Ginger’ as he was known to one and all because of his flame-red hair – was beset with injury and forced into retirement in 1964. He subsequently took up a position as a professional with a club in Grimsby, and played Minor County cricket for Lincolnshire between 1965 and 1971.

Brian Evans had first played as a seventeen year-old for Glamorgan 2^nd XI before winning a place on the county’s full-time staff and making his first-class debut against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge in 1958. A measure of his abilities can be gauged from the fact that he claimed, in all, ten five-wicket hauls with his finest hour coming against Somerset at the Arms Park in 1961 when he claimed 8/42 as well as posting a career-best half-century.

The West Country side were also the opponents as the very Celtic pairing of Evans and Jones shared the new ball in Glamorgan’s inaugural List A match at the Cardiff ground in 1963.

EVANS, John Brian

Born – Clydach, 9^th November 1936.      

Died – Grimsby, 1^st May 2011.   

Best performances for Glamorgan:

In first-class cricket – 62*and 8/42 v Somerset at Cardiff Arms Park, 1961.

In List A cricket – 1/37 v Somerset at Cardiff Arms Park, 1963.

	M	I	NO	RUNS	AV	100	50	CT	ST
First-class	87	129	19	1515	13.77	–	7	45	–
List A	1	1	0	0	–	–	–	1	–

	Balls	M	R	W	AV	5wI	10wM
First-class	13993	508	6670	246	27.11	10	–
List A	50	1	37	1	37.00	–	–