Len Hill
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm-medium
Columns2
Column 1First-class
Matches 176
Runs 12,690
Bat avg 124.45
100s/50s 10/14
Top score 196*
Deliveries 152
Wickets 10
Bowl avg 1–
Fivefor 1–
Tenfor 1–
Best bowling 1–
Catches/stumpings 140/1
Column 2List A
Matches 228
Runs 2285
Bat avg 214.25
100s/50s 20/0
Top score 242
Deliveries 2–
Wickets 2–
Bowl avg 2–
Fivefor 2–
Tenfor 2–
Best bowling 2–
Catches/stumpings 212/–
Sourcehttp://www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/player/14203.html Cricinfo
Date27 March
Year2019
Len Hill
FullnameLenard Winston Hill
Birth date14 April 1941
Birth placeCaerleon, Wales
Death date10 April 2007 (aged 65)
Height5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
PositionWing half
Youthyears 11958–62
Youthclubs 1Lovells Athletic
Years 11962–1970
Years 21970–1971
Years 31971–74
Clubs 1Newport County
Clubs 2Swansea
Clubs 3Newport County
Caps 1269
Caps 212
Caps 397
Goals 152
Goals 21
Goals 313

Lenard Winston Hill (14 April 1941 – 12 April 2007) was a Welsh sportsman, who played first-class cricket for Glamorgan, league football for Swansea Town and Newport County and was also a talented tennis player. It was mentioned that he only went to play football professionally so he could spend more time practising in the nets for cricket. In later life Len was a keen golfer with a handicap of 3 and represented Wales Seniors.

Early sporting career

Hill was born in Caerleon and played for Lovell's Athletic[1] before joining Newport County in 1962. He remained with Newport until 1973, later playing briefly for Swansea City.[2]

Later career

Hill joined Glamorgan County Cricket Club in 1964, but his football career took precedence, preventing him from playing a full county cricket season until the mid-1970s.[3] His first class debut came on 18 July 1964 against Lancashire. He scored just one run on his debut, falling lbw to Brian Statham.

He later became a regular right-hand batsman in the Glamorgan first XI, and was awarded a county cap in 1974. He made 76 first-class appearances for Glamorgan and scored 2,690 runs (including 14 fifties), with a top score of 96 not out against Gloucestershire in 1974. In the same year, he scored 90 not out against Hampshire in one of the year's most notable Glamorgan victories. He played his last game for Glamorgan in 1976. He helped Glamorgan to victory beating Pakistan where he got Imran Khan and some other notable players out.

A brief spell as professional at Ammanford Cricket Club[4] completed his career.

Recognition of qualities

In 1975, he was featured in an article in Wisden by Basil Easterbrook entitled "The Willing Workhorses of First Class Cricket".[5]

A popular player, in retirement he kept in touch with his ex-colleagues through the Glamorgan Ex-Players' Association.[6]

Death

Hill died in April 2007, aged 65.[7]

References

  1. ^ Playing for Lovell's
  2. ^ He was a popular player at Newport County and one of the longest serving players for the club. Newport County A-Z of transfers
  3. ^ BBC Obituary
  4. ^ Club Web site
  5. ^ "Wisden's Cricketers' Almanac" Preston, N (Ed): London, Sporting Handbooks, 1975 ISBN 0-85020-048-2
  6. ^ Article by Alistair Hignell[dead link]
  7. ^ Welsh dual sport star Hill dies