Jack Young played for Glamorgan in four matches during 1944 and 1945 whilst on National Service in South Wales. His first appearance came in 1944 against the Anti-Aircraft Command at Rodney Parade in Newport before featuring in matches the following year against the RAF, the Army and the West Of England.
The spinner had first played for Middlesex in 1933, but had not secured a regular place in the team and had trialed with Leicestershire in 1939. He had played in a number of wartime friendlies for the London Counties and other scratch teams, with his haul of 8/71 for Glamorgan against the RAF at the Arms Park in 1945 highly impressing the Glamorgan selectors.
When Glamorgan subsequently offered him terms on his demobilization in 1946, Jack accepted the offer, but the Middlesex hierarchy were unaware of his decision and did not like the loss of his services. They successfully managed Jack to change his mind, much to the angst of the Glamorgan officials, with the tensions between the North London side and the Welsh county were eased by the subsequent move to Glamorgan by Len Muncer, Pete Hever and Jimmy Eaglestone who were all colleagues of the spinner at Lord’s.
Glamorgan’s disappointment rose to the surface again when Jack duly won the first of eight Test caps as he made his England debut at Headingley against the 1947 Springboks. By the time Jack retired at the end of the 1956 season, he had taken 1361 first-class wickets at just 19 runs apiece.
YOUNG, John Albert (‘Jack’)
Born – Paddington, 14 October 1912.
Died – St. John’s Wood, 5 February 1993.
Batting and Fielding Record:
| M | I | NO | RUNS | AV | 100 | 50 | CT | ST | |
| Wartime | 4 | 3 | 0 | 25 | 8.33 | – | – | – | – |
Bowling Record:
| Balls | M | R | W | AV | 5wI | 10wM | |
| Wartime | ? | ? | ? | 21 | – | – | – |