County cricket disappearing from Swansea's St Helen's ground

"An ugly, lovely town... crawling, sprawling... by the side of a long and splendid curving shore. This sea-town was my world."

Dylan Thomas must be turning in his grave at the continuing – perhaps permanent - absence of his favourite sport, cricket, from Swansea… well, the professional game anyway.

The poet and writer loved watching Glamorgan play at St Helen’s with his friend John Arlott, who at one stage was his producer on the BBC World Service.

The ground is owned by Swansea Council, and used by rugby club Swansea RFC and Swansea Cricket Club. During the pandemic rugby franchise the Ospreys’ training base at Llandarcy was turned into a field hospital. Instead they practised on the outfield of St Helen’s.

That didn’t help its condition, and with Glamorgan absent since 2019, and because of the pandemic, groundstaff would need a substantial period of time to bring things up to speed. But alas there are other barriers to the ground becoming a first-class cricket venue again.

The ECB regulations become tighter from 2023, and the infrastructure, pitch, outfield and media facilities all need an expansive overhaul. There are no recriminations between the two rugby and two cricket clubs.

It is just desperately hoped that the local council can intervene at some stage to save county cricket at Swansea. The St Helen’s ground could also really do with a Getty-style benefactor.

^{Glamorgan could return to Colwyn Bay this summer [Jan Kruger/Getty Images]}

At the moment, however, a connection that has seen Glamorgan defeat the Australians there twice, in 1964 and 1968, and Garry Sobers hit Malcolm Nash for six sixes in an over in 1968, has been severed. There have also been two ODIs there – England against New Zealand in 1973, and a 1983 World Cup match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

John Williams, chairman of St Helen’s Balconiers, the supporters’ group that champions the venue, says the news is especially hard to take after they raised £450,000 in 12 years for the county to play there.

Glamorgan head of operations, Dan Cherry, has said: "Regrettably we are unable to play at St Helen’s this year, with the facilities no longer able to support the hosting of domestic cricket at the venue."

The Welsh county will be playing at The Gnoll, Neath, for the first time in 27 years. It is where Glamorgan staged their first-ever home game in the Sunday League, and this summer the Royal London Cup 50-over games against Lancashire and Hampshire, on August 17 and 19 respectively, will be there. The two matches against Kent and Yorkshire could also be at Newport.

Glamorgan last played at Neath in 1995, against a Young Australia side that featured Matthew Elliott, Adam Gilchrist, Michael Kasprowicz, Justin Langer, Stuart Law, and Ricky Ponting (Elliott and Kasprowicz both starred as overseas pros in long stints for Glamorgan, of course).

The return to Colwyn Bay for the County Championship match with Nottinghamshire on July 11 is dependent on whether work can be carried out in time, amid the Covid-19 situation. Unfortunately it is not looking especially hopeful, The Cricketer understands, with the pandemic keeping helpful volunteers at bay.

There is more optimism on the pitch, though. Australians Marnus Labuschagne and Michael Neser will be returning. How much they play will be subject to Australia’s schedules – the latter will probably be available more than the former.

A triumvirate of very capable county performers have also joined the club: Edward Byrom, James Harris (returning from Middlesex) and last but not least, Sam Northeast – highlighted by many as somebody unlucky not to play for England in the light of the Ashes debacle.

David Lloyd is now club captain and will lead the team in both Championship and Blast cricket, with Chris Cooke returning to the ranks following a three-year spell. Kiran Carlson, who will continue to lead in the Royal London Cup after the county won the competition last year, is vice-captain for the two other formats.

It is Michael Hogan’s last season for the club, and also his testimonial year. He joined in 2013.

^{Sam Northeast is one of three new faces at Glamorgan this season [Dan Mullan/Getty Images]}

Glamorgan chairman Gareth Williams came across well as one of four county chiefs grilled by the Digital, Culture, Media & Sport select committee earlier this week.

The club have two players with South Asian heritage on their books – Carlson and Prem Sisodiya – but Williams admitted: "I have absolutely no doubt that historically there have been issues of racism in this sport generally, and no doubt in Glamorgan in particular."

Of course Majid Khan, Javed Miandad and Waqar Younis were also club legends. They were not born in the country, although fans dubbed them 'honorary Welshmen'.

Williams gave some interesting figures – that 20 per cent of the population of Cardiff is non-white, with an overall figure of five per cent across the Principality.

"I'm satisfied it's not the [club’s] position now," Williams said. "Two of the directors are from the British Asian community, they're terrific directors that make a huge contribution."

The club are working hard to broaden cricket’s appeal. Nearly 3,000 school children took part in Glamorgan’s school visit programme from the end of May last year until December 2021.

In all, 2,855 pupils from 57 primary and secondary schools across South Wales participated in the scheme. Youngsters visiting Sophia Gardens can go on a stadium tour besides enjoying skills-drills and softball play session in the indoor school.