Glamorgan legend Alan Jones becomes England 696th Test cricketer

Glamorgan legend Alan Jones has become England’s 696th Test cricketer – 50 years on from his only appearance in a game later denied Test status by the ICC.

The decision by the ECB to award Jones, now aged 81, a retrospective navy blue cap was prompted by his interview with Sportsmail last month, when he expressed his decades-long disappointment at not being regarded as a fully fledged Test player.

Now, following a surprise presentation on Zoom attended by board chairman Colin Graves, Test captain Joe Root and the great and the good of Welsh cricket, Jones can finally wear his new cap and his old blazer – which for half a century has languished in a wardrobe at his home near Swansea– with pride.

Glamorgan legend Alan Jones has become England’s 696th Test cricketer at 81 years old

Jones made his only appearance 50 years ago in a match that was later denied Test status

‘I still have my blazer and the tie,’ he said. ‘I don’t care what anybody says: to represent England in a Test match at Lord’s was something very, very special in my career, and I will look at this cap with fond memories. Being No 696 will stay with me for ever now.’

The presentation took place 50 years to the day since Jones walked out to open the batting with Kent’s Brian Luckhurst against a Rest of the World team cobbled together at short notice to replace South Africa because of fears over anti-apartheid demonstrations.

Jones lasted 12 minutes before he was caught behind by Farokh Engineer off Mike Procter for five. In the second innings, the same combination dismissed him for a duck. And that was it. Jones never played for England again – and never received an explanation for his treatment.

‘When the opportunity came along, it was quite a thrill,’ he said. ‘But I knew when I drove up to Lord’s that I had to succeed, because if I didn’t get runs, that would have been the end of my Test match career. Deep down, that’s how I felt. The pressure was put into your game before you started.’

However, he was awarded a surprise presentation over Zoom with England captain Joe Root

In 1972, the ICC argued they had never given Test status to the five-match series against a World team captained by Garry Sobers, who starred in a 4-1 win.

Jones instead set about creating history for Glamorgan, finally retiring in 1983 after scoring most first-class runs (36,049) than anyone not to have played in an official Test. ‘Winning an England cap, then having it taken away from you some years later, that was a huge disappointment,’ he said.

The ECB yesterday played down reports they would lobby the ICC to award Test status to the 1970 series, though that would bring it into line with the one-off game at Sydney in October 2005, considered an official Test, between an ICC World XI and Australia.

Luckily for Jones, who was clearly touched by the presentation, the new cap fits perfectly. ‘I’m waiting for the helmet now,’ he smiled.