Andrew Hignell, Education and Heritage Manager at Glamorgan Cricket, is a prolific cricket historian with over a dozen books published. In this authoritative work he begins with the early years of cricket in Wales then concentrates inevitably on the development of Glamorgan cricket.Dividing the period into nine stages from 1760 to the present, the early years are those of occasional fixtures and gentlemen's teams with the twentieth century the period that saw today's clubs and county develop.1783 is the first reference to a cricket game played at Court Henry Down at Cross Inn on the Llandeilo/Carmarthen road. Games then were played for money and lavishly hosted. At Golden Grove the Vaughans purchased 29 casks of ale and an incredible 55 worth of wine in 1785. The gentlemen participants were 'more adept at quickstep and waltz than the off drive'. Large estates at Beaufort, Marchwiel and Gogerddan helped establish the game in their areas.

Railway growth saw a slow spread of the game. Swansea to Carmarthen by stage coach previously took 5 hours. This and the patronage of early industrialists, such as Viivians and Linseys in Swansea, increased participation with workingmen's teams. But public schools and gentry dominated. Carmarthen in 1864 became the first County side - 'No tradesmen or working class admitted' read its constitution.From the 1870s came the growth of club sides known today and the establishment of Glamorgan in 1888 as a minor county. In 1921 it joined the County Circuit as a professional Club. These were the years of Norman Riches in the '20s, Maurice Turnbull in the '30s, J.

C. Clay who even turned out in the first championship season in 1948. Each decade is recalled and its highlights detailed, 1948, 1069, 1997 - County Championships; 1977, 1993 2000 - famous one-day encounters.The names etched in our memories, Emrys and Dai Davies, Willie Jones, Gilbert Parkhouse, Alan Jones, Allan Watkins, Don Shepherd with his 2218 wickets, the leadership of Wilf Wooller, Tony Lewis, the England caps for Allan Watkins, Gilbert Parkhouse, Jim McConnon, Tony Lewis, Peter Walker, Steve Watkin and Robert Croft. Not forgotten are the village sides Gowerton, Ynysygerwn, St. Fagans, Ynystawe and the efforts of Tom Cartwright at grass roots level.This is a well researched and written account of cricket's evolution from recreational to commercial, local to international.Geoffrey EdwardsIt is possible to use this review for promotional purposes, but the following acknowledgment should be included: A review from www.

gwales.com , with the permission of the Welsh Books Council. Gellir defnyddio'r adolygiad hwn at bwrpas hybu, ond gofynnir i chi gynnwys y gydnabyddiaeth ganlynol: Adolygiad oddi ar www.gwales.com , trwy ganiatd Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru.