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

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Player:

SL Watkin

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Day in, day out Steve Watkin is one of the most reliable bowlers on the county circuit. The Maesteg-born seamer has shouldered the burden of being both strike and stock bowler in the Glamorgan attack for almost every year since his county debut in 1986.

 

Despite a workload which would frighten other English bowlers, Watkin has never had a serious injury, and his consistency was rewarded with nomination as one of Wisden's Cricketers of the Year in 1993. His most productive season was in 1989 when he claimed 94 wickets, whilst his career best figues of 8-59 were recorded the previous year against Warwickshire at Edgbaston. Watkin has won 3 England caps, yet many people both inside and out of Wales, feel that the hugely popular seamer should have won more.

 

He proved his reliability during 1997 as Glamorgan won the County Championship, and at the end of the season, the club announced that 1998 would be Steve's Benefit Year - an honour to handsomely reward one of the game's most popular professionals. To his credit, Steve secured a sum in excess of £130,000, and spoke volumes for the high regard in which he is held by the club`s supporters. In recent seasons, Watkin has been affected by a few niggling injuries, but in 2000, he passed the landmark of 800 first-class wickets for Glamorgan. In 2001 he claimed his 900th first-class wicket, before retiring at the end of the summer to become the Director of the Glamorgan Academy.

 

(March 2005)

 

(Article: Copyright © 2005 Dr.A.K.Hignell)