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

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Player:

AD Shaw

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Adrian Shaw became Glamorgan second team wicket-keeper in 1987 and for many years, Shaw was in the shadow of Colin Metson. However, Shaw's superior batting, as testified by a series of centuries in the Second Eleven Championship, led to his promotion over Metson during the second half of 1996 when the county's selectors attempted to strength the county's batting.

 

Earlier in his career, Shaw also played rugby for Neath, and his competitive nature has been a major asset to Matthew Maynard. The former Young England wicket-keeper responded with some fluent innings in 1997 as Glamorgan won the County Championship. He also played some important innings in one-day games, and his gutsy partnership with Steve James against Hampshire, saw Glamorgan not only to an important second round win in the Nat West Trophy, but helped to set up a run in the competition which took the Welsh county to the semi-final stages of the country's premier one day competition.

 

In 1999 Shaw hit a career best 140 against Oxford University at The Parks, but illness saw him miss the final few weeks of the season. A severe groin injury in 2000 thwarted the popular Glamorgan wicket-keeper once again, but not before he had impressed behind the stumps, especially in the match against the West Indian tourists where he deftly stumped Brian Lara for a duck.

 

Shaw lost his place in the county`s 1st XI in 2001 following the emergence of Mark Wallace, but Shaw continued to be an enthusiastic and pugnacious wicket-keeper batsman in second team cricket, and in 2002 the popular cricketer was appointed as Glamorgan`s 2nd XI captain. His team only lost one Championship match in 2002, and were in contention for the Second Eleven title until the final days of the season.

 

In the next few seasons, Shaw continued his good work with the county`s emerging players, taking over as 2nd XI coach, before succeeding John Derrick as the county`s 1st XI coach for the 2007 season.

 

(November 2006)

 

(Article: Copyright © 2006 Dr.A.K.Hignell)