Profile of David Evans by Dr.A.K.Hignell - Hon Statistician and Historian to Glamorgan CCC

Player:

David Evans was a fine and unobtrusive wicket-keeper, and by the time he retired in 1969, he had over 500 dismissals to his name. Born in London, but raised near Ammanford, Evans joined the Glamorgan staff during the mid-1950`s as understudy to Haydn Davies. He made his first-class debut in 1956, and became the regular wicket-keeper in 1958 when Davies retired.

Evans won his county cap in 1959 and continued the high standards which Davies had set. He made 79 dismissals in 1961, followed by 82 in 1962, before claiming 89 victims in 1963 to beat Haydn Davies` club record. He sustained a back injury during 1964, and temporarily lost his place to Eifion Jones. However, Evans duly regained his place in 1965, and in 1967 took six catches in an innings against Yorkshire to equal another one of Davies`s club records.

With the Welsh county needing to bolster their batting, preference was given to Eifion Jones from 1968. Despite the bitter disappointment of losing his place, Evans gracefully played on a regular basis for the county`s second eleven, and helped Phil Clift groom the junior players. Evans took a Benefit in 1969, before retiring and becoming a first-class umpire in 1971. He stood in nine Test matches between 1981 and 1985, including the famous Test between England and Australia at Headingley in 1981.