| Player: | RG Duckfield |
Dick Duckfield established a Glamorgan batting record in 1936 with an unbeaten 280 against Surrey at The Oval, compiled in five and a half hours, with 39 fours. At the time, it was the highest individual innings in the club`s history, and a very bright future was predicted for the Maesteg-born batsman. However, within two years Duckfield had retired from the county game after a loss of confidence.
Duckfield made his Glamorgan debut in 1930, and in 1932 the right-handed batsman secured a regular place in the county`s middle order. He recorded his maiden first-class hundred in 1933 against Middlesex, and passed a thousand runs for the first time in his career. He consolidated on this headway in 1934 with two further centuries, and was also selected to play for the Players against the Gentlemen.
His marathon efforts at The Oval proved that Duckfield had the temperament to compile large innings, but soon afterwards, he started to doubt his ability in the field and found it increasingly difficult to either catch a ball in the air or field a ball running along the ground. As this preyed on his mind, Duckfield lost his place in the county`s side, and retired from professional cricket at the end of the 1938 season.
(Article: Copyright © 2000 Dr.A.K.Hignell)