Jack Mercer

Jack Mercer was the main bowler for the Glamorgan cricket team in the early years in the County Championship. Born in 1893, he began his cricket career with the Sussex cricket team post World War I in 1919 though he got less chance to play as the team had many medium pace bowlers and professional players like Maurice Tate and the Relf brothers.

By 1920, Mercer played a bit of bowling though his lack of chances in 1921 led him to qualify for the newly promoted first class county cricket for Glamorgan. After a slow start, he made a good record by 1925, and became a well established bowler with over 100 wickets for the first time.

Jack played cricket for other teams too like for Northamptonshire in 1947, the Marylebone Cricket club for one season in 1926-27, Glamorgan, of course from 1922 to 1939 and the Sussex team, which was from 1919 to 1921.

=== Career Highlights ===

In 1926, the county team was succeeding due to amazing batsman in Glamorgan team and rose to the 8th position, with Mercer’s amazing bowling techniques. This includes 8 for 39 against Gloucestershire and the victory over Somerset for 59 along with 77 on a sticky wicket at Cardiff Arms Park. All these records put Mercer in second place in the averages and even won him a Cricketer of the year nomination from the Wisden, when Ashes tour strengthened competition for the honor.