16 Facts About Robert Croft

Robert Croft is an off-spin bowler who played for Glamorgan and captained the county from 2003 to 2006.

Robert Croft retired from first class cricket at the end of the 2012 season, having played county cricket for 23 seasons.

Robert Croft was educated at St John Lloyd Roman Catholic Comprehensive School, Llanelli.

Robert Croft played rugby union as a scrum half for Llanelli RFC Under-11s.

Robert Croft made his England debut against Pakistan in 1996, and did enough to earn a touring place to Zimbabwe and New Zealand.

Robert Croft 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.

Around this time, Robert Croft was involved in what ESPNCricinfo calls "an unsavoury, but in truth pretty harmless, pushing and finger-wagging incident" with Mark Ilott during the NatWest Trophy semi-final against Essex, which Glamorgan narrowly lost.

However Robert Croft had a happier experience that year in helping his county to their first County Championship in 28 years, Robert Croft taking 54 wickets in Glamorgan's campaign at an average of 23.31.

Robert Croft toured the West Indies with England that winter, but in spite of taking six wickets in the fourth Test, it was the only Test he played that series.

Wisden observed that "England found an unlikely hero in Robert Croft, who made up for three wicketless Tests by keeping his end intact for more than three hours".

Robert Croft was dropped for the next Test, although his innings helped to shift the momentum in the series, which England won.

Robert Croft enjoyed another relatively successful tour in Sri Lanka early in 2001, taking nine wickets at 28.66 as England won the three-match Test series.

In general, Robert Croft was a more effective Test bowler overseas, where he took 35 wickets in 9 Tests at 24.65, than in England, where he took 14 wickets in 12 Tests at 68.71.

Robert Croft was once honoured as a druid at the Welsh cultural event, the National Eisteddfod.

Robert Croft was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2013 New Year Honours for services to cricket.

In October 2018, Robert Croft left his role as Glamorgan head coach.