Jimmy Eaglestone won Championship medals with Middlesex in 1947 and then with Glamorgan in 1948.
After a spell on the MCC groundstaff during the Second World War at Lord’s and then with Middlesex, the left-handed batsman moved to South Wales in search of greater opportunities of first-team cricket. The Welsh county’s approach had followed discussions by Wilf Wooller and the Glamorgan hierarchy with Len Muncer, who had also been on Middlesex’s books before and briefly after the War. Aware of the need to improve the county’s fielding, Len readily put forward Jimmy’s name, as he was aware of his frustrations at Lord’s as well as his alert and razor-sharp abilities in the field.
His steady batting and fine ground fielding helped secure him a regular place in Glamorgan`s team that won the Championship for the first time in their history as well as his county cap. But having made 669 runs in 1948, Jimmy made just 395 from 35 innings in 1949 with a solitary fifty.
With Stan Montgomery having joined the Club, and impressing with his forceful batting, it became apparent that, at best, Jimmy might only get a one-year contract for 1950. He was a Londoner at heart and when an offer came his way of running a newsagents business near Paddington railway station, he decided to call time on his career as a professional cricketer.
EAGLESTONE, James Thomas
Born – Paddington, 24th July 1923.
Died – Pinner, Middlesex, 14th October 2000.
Best performance for Glamorgan:
First-class – 72 v Sussex at St. Helen’s, Swansea, 1948.
| M | I | NO | RUNS | AV | 100 | 50 | CT | ST | |
| First-class | 50 | 78 | 7 | 1064 | 14.98 | – | 4 | 20 | – |