Swansea ‘old lady’ St Helen’s bids farewell to cricket

With Welsh rugby union team Ospreys due to move here in 2026-27, this was the last act of cricket at a ground that has seen the sport played here for more than 150 years.

Among the hundreds watching events unfold on the cricketing swansong were some Glamorgan greats, including Roger Davis, who famously caught Sobers’ fifth six in the Malcolm Nash over before stepping over the boundary.

Then there was batting legend Alan Jones, who played in a pivotal role in two Glamorgan wins against Australia in 1964 and 1968.

“I never thought this day would happen, especially in my days,” said Jones.

“This has been one of the happiest grounds of my career. I have played so many games here and have so many happy memories playing with my brother Eifion as well.

“This has always been the home of cricket for us and it’s a very disappointing day.”

Jones’ sentiments are shared by many in west Wales with witnessing cricket at this stadium in Swansea forming part of their own history.

There is also a sense of regret, and maybe even anger, that cricket is not continuing here with frustrations among the locals towards Ospreys, Swansea Council and Glamorgan Cricket, who have not played at St Helen’s since 2019.

Ospreys posted a social media message they would be moving into St Helen’s on Monday less than 24 hours after the cricketing finale.

This drew a stinging response from another Glamorgan legend, who learned his trade at Swansea.

Former England spinner Robert Croft celebrated his 1,000th first-class wicket at St Helen’s in 2010 and has strong ties to the ground.

“I wish the Ospreys and their supporters well and all the good fortune in the world but to post a picture like that and also in using some of the terminology, will be incredibly insensitive to a lot of people,” wrote Croft.