Allan Watkins

Not to be confused with Alan Watkins or Henry Watkins Allen.
Allan Watkins
Personal information
Full name Albert John Watkins
Born 21 April 1922
Usk, Monmouthshire, Wales
Died 3 August 2011 (aged 89)
Kidderminster, Worcestershire, England
Batting style Left-hand bat
Bowling style Left-arm medium-fast
International information
National side
Career statistics
Competition Tests First-class
Matches 15 484
Runs scored 810 20,361
Batting average 40.50 30.57
100s/50s 2/4 32/108
Top score 137* 170*
Balls bowled 1,364 51,469
Wickets 11 833
Bowling average 50.36 24.48
5 wickets in innings 25
10 wickets in match
Best bowling 3/20 7/28
Catches/stumpings 17/– 464/–
Source:

Allan Watkins (21 April 1922 – 3 August 2011), born Albert John Watkins, was a Welsh cricketer, who played for England in fifteen Tests from 1948 to 1952. He toured India and Pakistan in 1951–52 with the MCC, 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.

Life and career

Born in Usk, Monmouthshire,[1] Watkins made his debut for Glamorgan just three weeks after his seventeenth birthday in 1939, as World War II loomed. He was an all-rounder, being a left-handed batsman, a medium to fast left-arm bowler and a brilliant close fielder, particularly at backward 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.

He was voted 'Indian Cricket Cricketer of the Year' in 1951–52, after a successful series there with the MCC. During that tour, Watkins battled his way to a nine-hour-long, unbeaten 137, in Delhi, his best Test score. Oddly, Watkins' better performances were overseas, as his five home Tests did not provide a single innings above fifty.[1]

Watkins went on to successfully coach school cricket, most notably at Oundle School and Framlingham College.

He also played football for Cardiff City and Plymouth Argyle.[2] He died in Kidderminster, Worcestershire on 3 August 2011, following a short illness.[3]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Bateman, Colin (1993). If The Cap Fits. Tony Williams Publications. p. 184. ISBN 1-869833-21-X.
  2. Plymouth Argyle : 1946/47 - 2008/09 ; at Newcastlefans.com
  3. "Allan Watkins dies aged 89". ESPNcricinfo. 4 August 2011. Retrieved 4 August 2011.