History often repeats itself in sport, but for Glamorgan it is rarely in the form of repeat success. Richard Thomas finds echoes of the past in the county’s troubles this week, but with the boot firmly on the other foot.
Another dip into the archives this week and a revisit to another significant match during Glamorgan’s County Championship-winning season of 1997.
But though the result was totally different, Glamorgan’s match with Gloucestershire two decades ago had some uncanny symmetry with the county’s spectacular defeat this week. Exactly 20 years on: the same sides, a 10-wicket win and all played out on an out-ground.
Back in ’97 Glamorgan were seeing off Gloucestershire by 10 wickets at St Helen’s to open up a 17-point lead at the top of the table. People were starting to believe that with just over two months of the season left, Matthew Maynard’s men could actually win the title.
Though the Swansea weather did its very best to spoil matters – 129 overs were lost to rain in the opening four sessions – Glamorgan took control of the contest through Hugh Morris (173) and Maynard who put on an amazing 223 for the third wicket in only 40 overs.
That quick scoring aided by Tony Cottey’s contribution of 76 not out allowed Glamorgan to declare on 400 and let the bowlers run through Gloucestershire twice, which they did to leave the Welsh county with the relatively simple task of getting 48 to win from 21 overs.
The pleasing thing from the bowlers’ point of view was they did not rely too heavily on Waqar Younis with Steve Watkin, Darren Thomas and Dean Cosker – with seven victims in the game – helping to dismiss Gloucestershire for 214 and 233 respectively.
Forward wind to the present day and the story for Glamorgan was a rather more depressing one in the match against Gloucestershire at Cheltenham College, where the usually serene surroundings were disturbed dramatically on the first day when 25 wickets went down in 90 frenetic overs.
Glamorgan lost on the second day on Tuesday by 10 wickets in a match that lasted only 160 overs.
It all came down to a dreadful first day, especially for the likes of messrs Selman, Rudolph, Morgan, Ingram and Donald who were all out twice in the day as Glamorgan made 117 and 59 for five. The only consolation was that Marchant de Lange, captain Michael Hogan and Tim van der Gugten all took three wickets as the home side were bowled out for 141.
But with the damage having been done the second day saw Gloucestershire cruise to victory – depriving the fans of more than another two days of cricket.
Gloucestershire captain Phil Mustard said: “Cricket is a funny game and I have never been involved in a game quite like that.”
You might not have done Phil, but it’s a fairly regular occurrence for Glamorgan.