20 April 2006 was the date when the ECB confirmed that Glamorgan would host a Test Match in the the 2009 Ashes. It was a decision greeted with delight bin the corridors of power at Sophia Gardens, especially Paul Russell, the Club’s Chairman, who had both masterminded besides subsequently helping to fund the redevelopments.
The decision followed a lot of lobbying by the Glamorgan officials in the aftermath of the 2005 Asses. The gripping series had shown the massive benefits generated by Test cricket, whilst the closure of Wembley Stadium for redevelopment, and the staging of the FA Cup Final and other major sporting events at the Millennium Stadium had all brought a raft of economic benefits for the City of Cardiff and South Wales as a whole. With research commissioned by UK Sport showing that Test cricket could boost a local economy by several million pounds a day, Glamorgan formulated during 2005/06, a bid to stage an Ashes Test in 2009 with the support of the City Council, the Chamber of Commerce and the Welsh Assembly Government.
A revised ground development plan was also submitted to the City Council, with the plans entirely in keeping with the parkland setting and enhancing the vista of the immediate locality. With the projected capacity of around 16,000, Glamorgan confirmed their bid to the ECB for Category ‘A’ ground status – the level required for Test Match Cricket – and at the end of March, a visit was made to Sophia Gardens by the newly-instigated Major Match Group (MMG) – the body empowered by the ECB to decide upon the allocation of major matches to various grounds . The group listened to various presentations from Glamorgan’s officials, and others from the Assembly Government and City Council, as the Club adopted a ‘Team Wales’ approach to demonstrate that they were more than capable of staging both one-day internationals and five-day Test matches in Cardiff as well as the importance of high profile matches in the on-going development of cricket in Wales.
On 20 April the ECB announced that Glamorgan Cricket had been given the right to host an Ashes Test against Australia in 2009 with Paul Russell echoing the sentiments of Welsh cricket fans throughout the world by saying “This is a great day not only for Welsh cricket but for Wales. Looking at the ECB website and seeing “npower Test matches v Australia 2009 – The Brit Oval, Cardiff, Edgbaston, Headingley and Lord’s” fills me with great pride both as a Glamorgan Member and as a Welshman.”
Glamorgan’s captain Robert Croft was also pleased when he heard the news as the team were preparing for their Championship match against Derbyshire at Sophia Gardens. “I know that this news will provide cricket in Wales and Glamorgan in particular with a massive boost. I can still remember the day I made my debut as a full England Test cricketer. I know that throughout Wales this will inspire young cricketers to join Simon Jones and become the Test cricketers of the future. I am delighted for all cricket fans in Wales and on their behalf I pay tribute to all of those who have worked so hard to make what was once a dream for so many of us a reality.”
But the summer of 2006 was a very disappointing one on the field for Glamorgan and, after yet another series of defeats in all formats, it saw Croft stand down as the Club’s leader with David Hemp taking over the captaincy for the closing weeks which also saw the departure of coach John Derrick shortly before a heavy defeat at The Rose Bowl in the newly instigated Nat West Pro40 League play-off with Glamorgan, who had ended in seventh place being relegated from Division One after being trounced by 151 runs by Hampshire, who had finished in third spot in the Second Division.
The portents had not been good at the start of the season as Matthew Elliott was ruled out following knee surgery and Michael Kasprowicz opted to concentrate on his commitments with Australia. In their place, the Welsh county recruited the New Zealand duo of James Franklin and Brendan McCullum, although the signing of the former came with the caveat that, following surgery, his bowling spells could not exceed twenty overs per day. McCullum warmed up for his stint with Glamorgan with an impressive Championship hundred at Cardiff before posting an 18-ball fifty against the Worcestershire Royals in the opening T20 contest at Sophia Gardens, Not to be out done, Franklin emulated his fellow countryman’s efforts with an 18-ball fifty of his own against Warwickshire at Edgbaston.
Mark Cosgrove, the young Australian batter, was also signed and the muscular opener duly struck a combative hundred on his debut. But his season was twice interrupted by international call-ups, with his flying in, and flying out, being symptomatic of the unsettled nature of the Glamorgan team which saw no less than ten different opening partnerships being tried in Championship games.
Opposite – Mark Cosgrove. Image Credit – Glamorgan Cricket Archives.
The defeat at Northampton epitomised the yo-yo morale within the Welsh camp with the visitors squandering a first innings lead of 176 after Franklin and Alex Wharf had exploited the muggy conditions to prevent Northants from securing any batting points. A fluent 99 by Hemp saw Glamorgan into the ascendancy but a gritty century by Usman Afzaal helped the home side to turn things around as Glamorgan were left a target of 225 in 90 overs. However, they were bundled out for just 56 in the space of 27 overs with Matt Nicholson, the Australian seamer, leading the rout by taking 6/23.
Despite his team’s struggles. Michael Powell had two very good reasons to look back with pride on 2006 as he struck successive double-hundreds during July with his efforts helping Glamorgan to the better of a draw against Essex at Chelmsford followed by a ten-wicket victory at Cheltenham College. His productive sequence began with 202 against Essex, as he occupied the crease for 479 minutes during which time he struck 28 fours, before a monumental 667 minute innings at the College Ground where it looked as if Steve James’ 309* might be broken by Michael’s wonderful efforts. However, on 299 he was caught behind and failed by one run of becoming the first batter since the legendary WG Grace to score a triple century at the historic Festival having hit 38 fours and two sixes, besides sharing in a stand of 238 with Hemp.
Michael’s consolation was a place in the Club’s record books as the first player to score back-to-back double-hundreds, plus the award of Glamorgan’s Player of the Year for 2006. But within twelve months Michael was fighting for his life in hospital in Exeter having been diagnosed as having a blood clot in his left forearm. After experiencing discomfort during Glamorgan’s match with Essex at Swansea, Michael had an operation to remove a rib which had been putting pressure on one of his arteries. But complications set in, necessitating a spell in intensive care, with his good friend Mark Wallace sat by his bedside. After further medical treatment, Michael was ruled out for the remainder of the season, but very glad to still be alive.