1984 saw another change of captaincy as well as a further series of heavy defeats, starting off at Lord’s where Glamorgan nosedived to a ten-wicket defeat against Middlesex. Despite a victory at Worcester, another sizeable loss followed against the West Indians before the Welsh county suffered yet another ten-wicket reversal in early June during their Championship encounter against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge.
During the first half of the season, the bowling of Winston Davis was preferred over the batting of Javed Miandad but, as the team struggled to amass decent totals, there were many who asked why a bowler was consistently being chosen. An injury to the Pakistani batter had also played a role early in the season, with Javed still feeling groggy after being struck on the head by a bouncer from his old adversary Dennis Lillee during a match in India.
Mike Selvey was also struggling with various ailments and, in mid-season, the former Middlesex man announced his retirement, with vice-captain Rodney Ontong appointed as his replacement. Ontong met with immediate success as he led the team to consecutive victories over Northants at Swansea and Warwickshire at Edgbaston, with new signing John Steele playing a key role in both victories with his accurate left-arm spin. Javed also returned to the side with Davis being called up into the West Indian tour party following an injury to Milton Small. He responded with 800 runs in seven Championship matches, including an unbeaten 212 against Leicestershire at Swansea.
Several of the local players also made headway. Hugh Morris scored his maiden Championship hundred and there was a pleasing contribution in one-day games by young all-rounder John Derrick from Aberdare. Greg Thomas also bowled with sustained pace and accuracy, but the player to make most headway during 1984 was Alan Lewis Jones, with the left-hander enjoying a breakthrough summer as he rattled up 1,811 runs.
Having moved up to open following Alan Jones’ retirement, he formed a productive partnership with John Hopkins. His run-laden summer began with a maiden Championship hundred, against Gloucestershire at Sophia Gardens Four further hundreds followed as well as useful contributions in the shorter-format. His consistent batting helped Glamorgan to record four victories – the most since 1975 – whilst for the first time since 1969 Glamorgan were unbeaten at home.
Off the field, the Club’s finances were bolstered by a deal with Peter Llewellyn Photocopying Ltd, a Swansea-based office equipment company who agreed to become the county’s first major sponsor with the Glamorgan players taking to the field for the first time in the Club’s history in clothing bearing their sponsors’ logo.
Three of the last four one-day games were also won and with Ontong accepting the captaincy for the following summer, rather the Club trawling around for another import as captain, 1984 ended with Glamorgan seemingly facing a new dawn on the horizon. As so often during this period, it proved not to be.