Tal Evans, a left-arm spinner, played once for Glamorgan during 1934 despite having suffered from rheumatic fever as a child and was unable to fully use his right arm.

The Llanelli-born youngster had developed prodigious powers of left-arm spin, and his success with bowling chinamen and googlies for Llanelli during the early 1930`s led to his selection for the Glamorgan Colts as well as a trial with Gloucestershire and the offer of a professional contract.

The thought of the teenager joining the West Country side was an anthema for Maurice Turnbull and Johnnie Clay, especially as they were doing their utmost to promote native talent so Tal was offered a professional contract with Glamorgan for 1934. He subsequently joined the staff and underwent an intensive programme of batting practice with Arthur Webb at Christ College Brecon. Tal duly made his Championship debut against Kent at Gravesend, but made little impact and did not score a run or take a wicket.

His limitations in the field were also exposed in the match with Kent but the Glamorgan authorities hoped with further experience with the 2^nd XI, his confidence would grow, both as a bowler and a fielder. He duly made a number of appearances in the Minor County games, but at the end of the 1937 summer, the Club were faced with a difficult decision. The emergence of batsman Willie Jones as a left-arm spinner had reduced Tal’s opportunities and, with doubts still remaining about his fielding and his inability to properly bat,  the Club regrettably had to release him. In 1939 he was also passed as unfit for National Service in the Army, and in 1944 Tal tragically collapsed and died at his aunt’s house in Llanelli at the age of 29.

EVANS, Talfryn           

Born – Sandy, Carmarthenshire, 10^th June 1914. 

Died – Llanelli, 31^st March 1944. 

Best performance for Glamorgan:

In first-class cricket – 0*v Kent at Gravesend, 1934.

	M	I	NO	RUNS	AV	100	50	CT	ST
First-class	1	2	1	0	–	–	–	–	–

	Balls	M	R	W	AV	5wI	10wM
First-class	32	0	25	0	–	–	–