England try to make up for 50 years of sadness for Alan Jones

When Glamorgan's prolific opener Alan Jones drove into Lord's to face the Rest of the World XI he thought he was winning his first – and, as it turned out, only – Test cap

It was one of the great injustices in cricket.

When Glamorgan’s prolific opener Alan Jones drove into Lord’s to face the Rest of the World XI he thought he was winning his first – and, as it turned out, only – Test cap.

The series was subsequently downgraded by the ICC, however.

On the 50th anniversary of the match the ECB did their best to make up for his disappointment today, though.

With a nod to Steve James who campaigned for this day, they awarded him England Test cap No.696 – the next available number, following Zak Crawley’s debut in November – in a virtual ceremony this morning. 

Among those joining ECB chairman Colin Graves to make the presentation were England Test captain Joe Root, Glamorgan chief executive Hugh Morris, as well as former England captain and Jones’s county team-mate, Tony Lewis, and other Glammie legends including Matt Maynard and Steve Watkin.

It was the toughest of ‘Tests/tests’ for Jones. He fell in both innings caught Farokh Engineer (India) bowled Mike Procter (South Africa) for 0 and 5 respectively, and was axed harshly by the selectors. As Crawley has found, that wouldn’t happen today.

Jones holds the record for scoring the most runs in first-class cricket without playing in an official Test, with his 36,049 ranking 35th highest of all time. He scored 1,000 runs in a season 23 times.

He was a key member of Glamorgan’s title-winning side of 1969 and was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1978. He was captain for two seasons in the late 1970s, leading them to the Gillette Cup final in 1977.

He then coached Glamorgan to the AXA Equity & Law League in 1993 (the one where Viv Richards shone) and was director of cricket when they won the County Championship in 1997, before being president between 2016 and 2019.

“It absolutely felt like a Test,” said Jones this morning, who said he did at least get to keep his England cap, blazer and tie from 50 years ago. “The Wisden Almanack said it was, and Garry Sobers, captain of the Rest of the World, said he’d never have been playing if it wasn’t a proper Test match.

“No one can be expected to succeed in their first game, whether it be in county cricket or in Tests. If you’re good enough to be picked you should be given a couple of chances at least. I knew in my heart as I drove into Lord’s that if I didn’t get runs in that match that would be the end. That is pressure! I was very annoyed but life goes on.

“I came close in 1968 I think. We were playing Lancashire at Cardiff and Ken Higgs told me Alec Bedser was watching (for England). It rained on the Saturday and Monday. On the Tuesday Lancashire set us 170-odd in a one-innings match and I made 95 not out, but Ken told me Alec had gone home the day before!”

Root in his England suit told Jones: “Hearing and reading about your achievements in cricket has been inspiring, so it’s a great honour to have been part of the celebration today. You have made a huge contribution to Glamorgan, English and Welsh cricket. The cap makes you part of a special family and I hope it’s not long before we can welcome you to an England match to congratulate you in person.”

“Alan was orthodox and phlegmatic,” said Lewis on the videocall. “Whether it was against swing bowling, or spin at Swansea, he was the master of the lot. It’s been a long fight to see Alan’s Test cap recognised, and a special day for Welsh cricket.”

The Rest of the World were in England because the tour by South Africa had been cancelled in protest against apartheid.

Sobers took 6 for 21 in that first innings, and the Rest of the World attack also included Australia’s Graham McKenzie, South Africa's Eddie Barlow and Pakistan's Intikhab Alam. Lance Gibbs (West Indies) and Peter Pollock (South Africa) also played that summer for the tourists, who won 4-1.

It was no mean England side, led by Ray Illingworth; they went on to win the Ashes down under that winter.

It is unfair that those 1970 Tests do not have Test status. Australia v ICC World XI at the SCG in 2005 0- the so-called 'Super Series' – is still Test No.1768. It is not as fondly recalled.

If the ICC were to ever revisit the decision to revoke the Test status of the 1970 series, maybe they could also look at the Packer Supertests from 1977–79. They were the hardest cricket possible say the players involved.

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