Glamorgan return on Wednesday to the picturesque and historic St. Helen’s ground in Swansea for their Specsavers County Championship Division Two clash against Derbyshire.
They have already played a Royal London One-Day Cup fixture at the ground this season, suffering a four-wicket defeat by Hampshire.
Once again, the annual Swansea and West Wales Cricket Festival has been made possible by the tireless work of the St. Helen’s Balconiers under the chairmanship of John Williams, who was recently rewarded with the titles of Honorary Consultant and Ambassador and Honorary Life Vice President of Glamorgan. John says it means everything to him to see Glamorgan return.
“No other outground in the country has more history attached to it than St. Helen’s in Swansea,” he says. “So much of Glamorgan’s history has happened in Swansea. We could go on in volumes about it.”
The seaside ground, a favourite amongst generations of cricket lovers from all over Wales and England, saw the world-record six sixes by Garry Sobers off the bowling of Malcolm Nash, whose recently published autobiography, Not Only, But Also (St. David’s Press) will be celebrated with a Balconiers dinner this week.
John Williams said: “Although the occasion that is remembered is the six sixes, there was more to Malcolm’s career, hence the title of his book. He’s also very fortunate because which other event in cricket is remembered more than the six sixes?!”
Not only was 1968 the year of the six sixes, but also the year in which Glamorgan celebrated their second victory over the touring Australians in four years. “That was a famous occasion that everyone remembers,” Williams added. “The Australians remember it and they say that they enjoyed the singing after the game, which is something you don’t see every day. All the teams in the past have loved coming here and going to Mumbles after a day’s play, and going to watch male voice choirs, which I remember when I was much younger!”
Festival and outground cricket remains popular across Wales and England, not least at St. Helen’s, the reasons for which are clear, according to Williams. “You ask any supporter of county cricket and they love going to outgrounds, especially St. Helen’s where there is space on the boundary on the edge of the rugby pitch, where children have their own games of cricket. The parents love coming down too, and spreading their rugs out on the grass. This is something which you don’t find in the big stadiums. People just love coming to outgrounds, and St. Helen’s in particular.”
Ninth placed Glamorgan take on sixth placed Derbyshire who last played a Championship match at St. Helen’s in 2003, when current Head Coach Robert Croft took six for 71 to force the follow-on, with the Welsh side claiming victory by an innings and 70 runs. Indeed, Derbyshire await their first win at Swansea since 1983, when they were victorious by two wickets.
Article written by Alun Rhys Chivers for the ECB Reporters' Network