8th June 2021
| Matt Thompson
Wales National County and Glamorgan Cricket have finalised plans to stage the newly introduced showcase fixture at Sophia Gardens on Tuesday, 20th July.
The concept was pioneered by the NCCA (National Counties Cricket Association) and ECB last year with every National County afforded the opportunity to test themselves against their neighbouring first-class counterparts.
The 50-over games provide a unique platform to grow the awareness of national counties’ cricket across England and Wales, as well as showcasing the pool of talent across the recreational game’s highest standard.
Due to the struggles of the pandemic, plans for the all Welsh affair were abandoned last year but everything appears on track for it to commence next month ahead of Glamorgan’s opening Royal London Cup game against Warwickshire on 22nd July.
Wales, who are currently in the middle of their own one-day cup campaign feature the best amateur cricketers around the Welsh circuit. Cardiff UCCE captain Sam Pearce leads the side which features the likes of Andrew Gorvin (St Fagans) and Steven Reingold (Neath) – both of whom have been heavily involved in Glamorgan 2nd XI’s side this summer.
Former Glamorgan staffers Aneurin Norman (Mumbles) and Connor Brown are first team regulars alongside former Gloucestershire Cricket keeper-batter Cameron Herring (Pontarddulais) and current Glamorgan academy players Tegid Phillips (Cardiff) and Morgan Bevans (Newport). Former Glamorgan all-rounder Darren Thomas currently leads the side as Head Coach.
Current Glamorgan players Prem Sisodiya, Roman Walker, Callum Taylor, Alex Horton, Lukas Carey, Kiran Carlson and Ruaidhri Smith have all featured for the national county side in recent times as it continues to provide a valuable stage in the player pathway for aspiring cricketers.
Glamorgan’s Director of Cricket Mark Wallace looks ahead to the fixture:
“We’re really looking forward to it. National Counties cricket is an important stage of the player pathway and so it’s great for us to be involved in this fixture. Not only will it provide our guys with a competitive fixture, it will be useful for us to see where players from the National County side are in their development.”
Cricket Wales’ Head of Talent Pathway Matt Thompson commented:
“The showcase game is a fantastic occasion for Welsh cricket in general, bringing the best that both recreational and professional game have to offer. Wales National County, and Cricket Wales in general enjoy a really positive relationship with Glamorgan and for the lads to be able to put themselves in the shop window, and challenge themselves against hardened, experienced professionals is a superb opportunity. I think it’s something that cricket followers across Wales will find an intriguing and exciting watch.”
The game will be live streamed on the Glamorgan Cricket website via the match centre and on Cricket Wales’ YouTube channel with social media updates throughout the day.
Further information, including crowd attendances for the fixture will be confirmed within the next few weeks.
Wales National County are inviting sponsorship opportunities for the fixture’s live stream – for more details email Matt Thompson on [email protected]