2014 is the fiftieth anniversary of Glamorgan's first-ever victory over the Australians, with Ossie Wheatley leading the Welsh county to a thrilling 36-run victory in front of an enraptured crowd at the St. Helen's ground in Swansea.
Alan Rees was Glamorgan's top-scorer in this historic contest in August 1964, amassing 95 runs in the game whilst Jim Pressdeee had a match return of 10/123. Don Shepherd also claimed 9/93 in a superb victory that witnessed some outstanding fielding, plus some deft wicket-keeping by young gloveman Eifion Jones, all to the delighted of a massive crowd at the ground overlooking Swansea Bay.
April 1964 also witnessed a remarkable one-wicket victory by Glamorgan in their Gillette Cup match against Worcestershire at the Rodney Parade ground in Newport. The unlikely batting hero of Glamorgan's stunning win in the 65-overs per side contest was Don Shepherd who with three balls remaining and six runs needed struck a mighty six to clinch victory for his side.
Shep's magnificent efforts were summed up as follows by Gordon Ross in Playfair Cricket Monthly - "Worcestershire spread an array of fieldsmen on the boundary to prevent any fours, being prepared instead to give away singles. Shepherd could see his chances of piercing the boundary ring were slight, and realising instead that singles were useless - and that there is not such a thing as a draw in this competition - he took the bull by the horns and decided to hit a six…. And what a mighty six he hit, soaring up over mid-wicket. The cheers suggested that Wales had just scored at the Arms Park! Glamorgan were home and dry, with Worcestershire - last year's finalists and well fancied to be at Lord's again this year - licking their wounds…."
These stirring events 50 years ago, plus those from the summer of 1914 and the start of the Great War, are just two of the features in the Glamorgan Yearbook for 2014 which will be published in March, ahead of the new season. As always, the Club's Yearbook also includes a thorough review of events on the field in 2013, with scorecards of every game played by Glamorgan as well as up-to-date statistics and records, plus full information about the Glamorgan 2nd XI and the Wales Minor Counties side.
Once again, the 2014 Glamorgan Yearbook is being produced on a pre-order format (at £16, plus £1 for postage). Orders can be made by contacting Reception at Glamorgan's headquarters at the SWALEC Stadium - which will be open on weekdays between 9am and 5pm from January 2nd. Alternatively, you can place an order by sending an email to info@glamorgancricket.co.uk or by ringing 029 2041 9380
