Club News

18 June 1998

Steve James plays for England

Steve James is now a Test player having been included in the England team for the Second Test with South Africa at Lord`s. James, the country`s leading run scorer during the last two years, was called up initially as cover for Mark Butcher who had a thumb injury. The Surrey batsman failed an early morning fitness test, and James was included in his place when play finally got underway at 1.30pm following rain.

Glamorgan colleague Robert Croft was also in the England side, and this is the first time since 1993 that two Glamorgan players have been in the England side. On that occasion, it was Steve Watkin and Matthew Maynard who were the two Glamorgan players selected for the final Test against Australia at The Oval - a game which England won!

Duncan Fletcher, the coach who guided Glamorgan to the Championship title last year, has been in Cardiff this week for discussions about a possible return to Wales next year. The Western Province coach has taken a break from cricket since the end of the domestic season in South Africa, and turned down the chance of coaching South Africa A in Sri Lanka next month. He spent several days in Cardiff en route to Ireland for a holiday with his family, and will let Glamorgan know his decision soon after his return from the emerald isle.

"Things are in the pipeline, and there`s nothing definate yet, but there`s a very good chance that I will be coming back," Fletcher said. "I`ve got to have a final chat with my wife and family because there is a lot of upheaval involved. But I would say it is 90 per cent certain that I will be at Glamorgan next season."

Fletcher has been closely folowing the club`s fortunes this season, and is not downhearted by their recent Championship defeats. "We went through a bad period in the middle of last season, and the only difference is that they are having theirs now. There`s been a bit of bad luck with injuries to Matthew Maynard and Waqar Younis, but with a couple of wins, Glamorgan will be back in the running. I said from the beginning of last season that we were cut out to be a good four day side. That is still the case. I would like to get the balance of the one day side right. There are a lot of talented youngsters coming through who have a big part to play."

Keep an eye on these pages for news of Duncan`s decision.