Allan Watkins

Born in Usk, Monmouthshire,[1] Allan Watkins made his debut for Glamorgan just three weeks after his seventeenth birthday in 1939, as World War II loomed. He served in the war as a firefighter in the Royal Navy.[2]

He was an all-rounder: a left-handed batsman, a medium to fast-medium left-arm bowler and a brilliant close fielder, particularly at short leg.[1] He was the first Glamorgan cricketer to score a century in Tests for England, and played for the county until 1961, when he was 39 years old and struggling with asthma.[2]

Watkins toured South Africa in 1948-49 and India and Pakistan in 1951-52 with the English Test team, and also participated in the 1955-56 'A' Tour to Pakistan. In 1953–54, he played with the Commonwealth team in India and Pakistan, returning home early through injury.

He was voted Indian Cricket Cricketer of the Year after a successful Test series there in 1951-52. During that series Watkins battled his way to a nine-hour-long, unbeaten 137, in Delhi, his best Test score. Watkins' best Test performances were overseas, as his five home Tests did not provide a single innings above fifty.[1] His other Test century came in the Fourth Test at Johannesburg in 1948-49, when he made 111.[3]

Watkins scored 1000 runs in an English season 13 times, and also took 100 wickets in 1954 and 1955, thus achieving the double in those two seasons.[2]

He also played football for Cardiff City and Plymouth Argyle,[4] and Rugby union for Pontypool.[2] He played Minor Counties cricket for Suffolk in 1965 and 1966.[5]

Watkins went on to successfully coach school cricket, most notably at Oundle School and Framlingham College.[2] He died in Kidderminster, Worcestershire, on 3 August 2011, following a short illness.[6]

• Allan Watkins at ESPNcricinfo
• Allan Watkins at CricketArchive