Robert Croft
Encyclopedia
Robert Damien Bale Croft (born 25 May 1970) is a Welsh
cricket
er who has played international cricket for both England and Wales. He is an off-spin bowler who plays for Glamorgan
and captained the county from 2003 to 2006. He also commentates occasionally for Sky Sports
.
He made his England
debut against Pakistan
in 1996 and did enough to earn a touring place to Zimbabwe and New Zealand. In Christchurch, he took his Test
best figures of 5-95 and his winter figures were a highly impressive 182.1-53-340-18. He played the first five tests of the 1997 Ashes
series but was dropped for the final test, replaced by Phil Tufnell
, after averaging 54 with the ball and showing a weakness to short-pitched fast bowling as a batsman. His last wicket stand with Angus Fraser
in the third Test of the 1998 series against South Africa
saved England from an innings defeat, personally scoring 37 not out.
His final Test match was the third Ashes Test of 2001 at Trent Bridge
where he bowled just 3 overs. He was selected for the subsequent tour of India but he pulled because of safety fears and was also selected for the 2003/04 tour of Sri Lanka but failed to play. After returning home, he announced his international retirement to concentrate on the captaincy of Glamorgan.
On 12 September 2006, after just two County Championship
victories in 15 games thus far in the season, he announced his resignation from the captaincy, and was succeeded by David Hemp
.
Exactly a year later, he passed 1,000 first-class wickets after dismissing Niall O'Brien
; he became the first Welsh cricketer to take the double of 10,000 runs and 1,000 wickets. In November 2007, he joined voices calling for a "clampdown" on Twenty20
problems with abusive crowds, aftering suffering abusive calls at Taunton Cricket Ground. On 1 August 2010 he got his first hat-trick against Gloucestershire to help Glamorgan win the match. It also made him the first Glamorgan spinner to take a hat-trick in 46 years.
Croft is a former pupil of St. John Lloyd's Roman Catholic Comprehensive School, Llanelli
and a former student of Swansea Institute of Higher Education. He also played rugby union
, as a scrum-half for Llanelli RFC Under 11s. He was once honoured as a druid at the Welsh cultural event, the National Eisteddfod.
England
(1989 – to date)
Champions
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er who has played international cricket for both England and Wales. He is an off-spin bowler who plays for Glamorgan
Glamorgan County Cricket Club
Glamorgan County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Glamorgan aka Glamorganshire . Glamorgan CCC is the only Welsh first-class cricket club. Glamorgan CCC have won the English County...
and captained the county from 2003 to 2006. He also commentates occasionally for Sky Sports
Sky Sports
Sky Sports is the brand name for a group of sports-oriented television channels operated by the UK and Ireland's main satellite pay-TV company, British Sky Broadcasting. Sky Sports is the dominant subscription television sports brand in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
.
He made his England
English cricket team
The England and Wales cricket team is a cricket team which represents England and Wales. Until 1992 it also represented Scotland. Since 1 January 1997 it has been governed by the England and Wales Cricket Board , having been previously governed by Marylebone Cricket Club from 1903 until the end...
debut against Pakistan
Pakistani cricket team
The Pakistan cricket team is the national cricket team of Pakistan. Pakistan, represented by the Pakistan Cricket Board , is a full member of the International Cricket Council, and thus participates in , and cricket matches....
in 1996 and did enough to earn a touring place to Zimbabwe and New Zealand. In Christchurch, he took his Test
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
best figures of 5-95 and his winter figures were a highly impressive 182.1-53-340-18. He played the first five tests of the 1997 Ashes
The Ashes
The Ashes is a Test cricket series played between England and Australia. It is one of the most celebrated rivalries in international cricket and dates back to 1882. It is currently played biennially, alternately in the United Kingdom and Australia. Cricket being a summer sport, and the venues...
series but was dropped for the final test, replaced by Phil Tufnell
Phil Tufnell
Philip Clive Roderick Tufnell is a former English cricketer turned television personality. A slow left-arm orthodox spin bowler, "Tuffers" as he was known played 42 Tests and 20 One Day International matches for England, as well as playing for Middlesex from 1986 to 2002...
, after averaging 54 with the ball and showing a weakness to short-pitched fast bowling as a batsman. His last wicket stand with Angus Fraser
Angus Fraser
Angus Robert Charles Fraser is the current Managing Director of Cricket of Middlesex County Cricket Club, and a former English cricketer and journalist....
in the third Test of the 1998 series against South Africa
South African cricket team
The South African national cricket team represent South Africa in international cricket. They are administrated by Cricket South Africa.South Africa is a full member of the International Cricket Council, also known as ICC, with Test and One Day International, or ODI, status...
saved England from an innings defeat, personally scoring 37 not out.
His final Test match was the third Ashes Test of 2001 at Trent Bridge
Trent Bridge
Trent Bridge is a Test, One-day international and County cricket ground located in West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire, England and is also the headquarters of Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club. As well as International cricket and Nottinghamshire's home games, the ground has hosted the Finals Day of...
where he bowled just 3 overs. He was selected for the subsequent tour of India but he pulled because of safety fears and was also selected for the 2003/04 tour of Sri Lanka but failed to play. After returning home, he announced his international retirement to concentrate on the captaincy of Glamorgan.
On 12 September 2006, after just two County Championship
County Championship
The County Championship is the domestic first-class cricket competition in England and Wales...
victories in 15 games thus far in the season, he announced his resignation from the captaincy, and was succeeded by David Hemp
David Hemp
David Lloyd Hemp is a Bermudian cricketer. He is a left-handed batsman and a right-arm medium-pace bowler, he has domestic cricket for Glamorgan, Free State and Warwickshire. David has a younger brother, Tim, who has previously played for Glamorgan's second eleven. He has also played List A and...
.
Exactly a year later, he passed 1,000 first-class wickets after dismissing Niall O'Brien
Niall O'Brien (cricketer)
Niall John O'Brien is an Irish cricketer educated at Marian College, Ballsbridge. He is a left-handed batsman and wicket-keeper. O'Brien's brother Kevin plays with him in the Irish team...
; he became the first Welsh cricketer to take the double of 10,000 runs and 1,000 wickets. In November 2007, he joined voices calling for a "clampdown" on Twenty20
Twenty20
Twenty20 is a form of cricket, originally introduced in England for professional inter-county competition by the England and Wales Cricket Board , in 2003. A Twenty20 game involves two teams, each has a single innings, batting for a maximum of 20 overs. Twenty20 cricket is also known as T20 cricket...
problems with abusive crowds, aftering suffering abusive calls at Taunton Cricket Ground. On 1 August 2010 he got his first hat-trick against Gloucestershire to help Glamorgan win the match. It also made him the first Glamorgan spinner to take a hat-trick in 46 years.
Croft is a former pupil of St. John Lloyd's Roman Catholic Comprehensive School, Llanelli
Llanelli
Llanelli , the largest town in both the county of Carmarthenshire and the preserved county of Dyfed , Wales, sits on the Loughor estuary on the West Wales coast, approximately west-north-west of Swansea and south-east of the county town, Carmarthen. The town is famous for its proud rugby...
and a former student of Swansea Institute of Higher Education. He also played rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
, as a scrum-half for Llanelli RFC Under 11s. He was once honoured as a druid at the Welsh cultural event, the National Eisteddfod.
England Tours
England `A`- West Indies 1992
- South Africa 1993/94
England
- Zimbabwe / New Zealand 1996/97
- Sharjah / West Indies 1997/98
- Australia 1998/99
- Sri Lanka 2000/01 and 2003/04.
Team Honours
GlamorganGlamorgan County Cricket Club
Glamorgan County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Glamorgan aka Glamorganshire . Glamorgan CCC is the only Welsh first-class cricket club. Glamorgan CCC have won the English County...
(1989 – to date)
Champions
- County ChampionshipCounty ChampionshipThe County Championship is the domestic first-class cricket competition in England and Wales...
: 1997 - National LeagueNational League (cricket)The NatWest Pro40 League was a one-day cricket league for first-class cricket counties in England and Wales. It was inaugurated in 1999, but was essentially the old Sunday League retitled to reflect the fact that large numbers of matches were played on days other than Sunday.-Sunday League:The...
: 1993, 2002, 2004 - National LeagueNational League (cricket)The NatWest Pro40 League was a one-day cricket league for first-class cricket counties in England and Wales. It was inaugurated in 1999, but was essentially the old Sunday League retitled to reflect the fact that large numbers of matches were played on days other than Sunday.-Sunday League:The...
Division 2: 2001
Individual Honours
- GlamorganGlamorgan County Cricket ClubGlamorgan County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Glamorgan aka Glamorganshire . Glamorgan CCC is the only Welsh first-class cricket club. Glamorgan CCC have won the English County...
Cap: 1992 - GlamorganGlamorgan County Cricket ClubGlamorgan County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Glamorgan aka Glamorganshire . Glamorgan CCC is the only Welsh first-class cricket club. Glamorgan CCC have won the English County...
Young Player of the Year: 1990, 1992 - GlamorganGlamorgan County Cricket ClubGlamorgan County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Glamorgan aka Glamorganshire . Glamorgan CCC is the only Welsh first-class cricket club. Glamorgan CCC have won the English County...
Player of the Year: 1996, 2003, 2004, 2007 - St.Helen's Balconiers Player of the Year: 2007
- GlamorganGlamorgan County Cricket ClubGlamorgan County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Glamorgan aka Glamorganshire . Glamorgan CCC is the only Welsh first-class cricket club. Glamorgan CCC have won the English County...
benefit season: 2000 - GlamorganGlamorgan County Cricket ClubGlamorgan County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Glamorgan aka Glamorganshire . Glamorgan CCC is the only Welsh first-class cricket club. Glamorgan CCC have won the English County...
captain: 2003-2006 - The Weatherall Award: 2004 (for the leading all-rounder in English first-class game)
- Reached 1000 first class wickets for glamorgan
Achievements
- First Welsh cricketer to score 10,000 runs and take 1,000 wickets in first-class cricket (2007)
- Elected to the Gorsedd of Bards
Books
- Bennett, Androw and Croft, Robert (1995) “Dyddiadur Troellwr” Y Lolfa, Talybont, Dyfed ISBN 0862433584
- Steen, Rob with Croft, Robert and Elliott, Matthew (1997) “Poms and cobbers : the Ashes 1997 : an inside view” Andre Deutsch, London ISBN 0233992103