Glamorgan gloveman Mark Wallace has announced his retirement from cricket with immediate effect to take up a role at the Professional Cricketers Association (PCA).
The former Glamorgan captain who spent 18 years in the first team and who was appointed to lead the team in 2012, until he was succeeded by Jacques Rudolph in 2015, confirmed his decision today. He will join the PCA as Player Development Manager supporting professional cricketers in the South-West and Wales.
“I've been extremely fortunate to have been able to represent the club for so long and while I walk away with a heavy heart I'm delighted to be able to start the next chapter of my life with the PCA.
“I'm hugely thankful to the club for the opportunities they've given me, the supporters for enduring some of my performances and to my family and friends for their unwavering support,” he said.
The most successful wicket-keeper batsman in Glamorgan’s history, in 2011 Mark Wallace became the first gloveman for the Welsh county to amass over 1,000 first-class runs in a season.
Born in Abergavenny, and raised in Crickhowell, ‘Wally’ made his Glamorgan debut in 1999 against Somerset at Taunton, and at 17 years and 287 days old he duly became the Club’s youngest wicket-keeper in a County Championship match. In the course of the next few years, he also represented England Under 19s, before becoming Glamorgan’s regular wicket-keeper in four-day cricket from 2001.
In June 2003 ‘Wally’ won his county cap aged just 21 and helped Glamorgan to the National League title in 2004. The following year, he also set a new club record by not conceding any byes in Kent’s mammoth total of 587 at Canterbury.
In 2009 Mark scored a career-best 139 and shared in a Club record stand of 240 against Surrey at the Oval, whilst in 2012, during Glamorgan's Championship match at Canterbury, Mark passed Eifion Jones' Club record for the highest aggregate of runs by a specialist wicket-keeper.
In 2015 Mark passed the landmark of 10,000 runs in first-class cricket as well as completing a sequence of 230 consecutive Championship appearances for the Welsh county. Twice during 2016, Mark also claimed nine victims in a first-class match to equal the Club’s wicket-keeping record.
“Mark Wallace has been an integral part of Glamorgan CCC for almost two decades,” commented Hugh Morris, Glamorgan chief executive.
“He will be long remembered for his skill with bat and gloves, his leadership qualities, as a role model in the dressing room and as an ambassador for the club.
“Mark can look back on an outstanding professional career with great pride and it is excellent news that he will continue to contribute to the game of cricket in his new role at the PCA.
“On behalf of the club, the committee and all supporters we wish Mark and his family all the very best with this new chapter in their lives."