Jim Pleass was a member of Glamorgan’s Championship-winning team in 1948 with the talented right-handed batsman appearing in the title-winning game against Hampshire at Bournemouth.
His place in the Club’s annals followed his wartime exploits when, as a callow 21 year-old, Jim had taken part in D-Day on 6th June 1944, working as a wireless signaler in the invasion force and landing at Arromanches, or Gold Beach as it was designated for Operation Overlord, with Jim bravely linking troops on the Normandy beaches with the heavily armed cruisers positioned off-shore and helping them direct their fire at pin-pointed targets along the shoreline.
Having enjoyed plenty of success for Cardiff CC, Jim had joined Glamorgan`s professional staff in 1948 having previously played for the county as an amateur in 1947. He subsequently developed into an assertive middle-order batsman and a fine cover fielder, and in 1951 he shared what proved to be a match-winning partnership with Wilf Wooller during Glamorgan’s historic victory over the South Africans at Swansea.
Jim only scored one century during his career, but it was an important one as it came at Harrogate in 1955 as the Welsh county secured their first ever Championship win on Yorkshire soil. Jim left the county`s staff the following year and went into business in Cardiff. He has served on the county`s committee and acted as secretary of the Glamorgan Former Players Association.
PLEASS, James Edward
Born – Cardiff, 21st May 1923.
Died – Cardiff, 16th February 2015.
Best performances for Glamorgan:
In first-class cricket – 102* v Yorkshire at Harrogate, 1955.
| M | I | NO | RUNS | AV | 100 | 50 | CT | ST | |
| First-class | 171 | 253 | 31 | 4293 | 19.30 | 1 | 11 | 77 | – |
| Balls | M | R | W | AV | 5wI | 10wM | |
| First-class | 24 | 0 | 15 | 0 | – | – | – |