Len Muncer was a key member of Glamorgan`s victorious team in the 1948 Championship. The off-spinner had made his Glamorgan debut the previous year after having moved to South Wales after thirteen years with Middlesex.

During this time, Len had failed to command a regular place in the Middlesex line-up, so with Johnnie Clay going into semi-retirement, Wilf Wooller persuaded Len to join the Welsh county in 1947. His accurate off-spin and aggressive middle-order batting were greatly appreciated by Wooller, as was Len’s wicket-taking abilities. He took 107 wickets in 1947, followed by 156 in the Championship summer of 1948, including a career best return of 9-62 against Essex at Brentwood and a match haul of 15/201 in the game against Sussex at Swansea.

His fine catching close to the wicket was another valuable asset, and in 1948 Len took 31 catches at slip or in the leg-trap.  In 1951 Len also performed the match double of 107* and 10/57 against Derbyshire at Chesterfield, whilst in the 1952 season he achieved the seasonal Double of 100 wickets and 1,076 runs.

During the Second World War, Len had been a Prisoner of War in South-East Asia, and had been involved in forced labour on the Burma-Siam Railway. By the 1950s these experiences plus all of his county cricket started to tell. He picked up a nasty groin strain in 1953 and, after taking a Benefit in 1954, Len announced his retirement from first-class cricket with 8,645 runs and 755 wickets at 20.90 apiece to his name.

After retiring, Len became Head Coach at Lord’s and until retiring from this position in 1978, he recommended many young cricketers to Glamorgan.

MUNCER, Bernard Leonard

Born – Hampstead, 23^rd October 1913.

Died – Camden, 18^th January 1982.

Best performances for Glamorgan:

In first-class cricket – 135 v Somerset at Swansea, 1952; 9/62 v Essex at Brentwood, 1948.

	M	I	NO	RUNS	AV	100	50	CT	ST
F-c	224	333	46	6460	22.50	4	21	111	–

	Balls	M	R	W	AV	5wI	10wM
First-class	38657	1919	14463	708	20.42	42	8