Mark Wallace was the youngest wicketkeeper to play for Glamorgan when he made his debut in 1999 and has forged a long and successful career with the county, becoming a popular figure in the Principality. He was appointed captain in 2012, charged with rebuilding a side in transition. A year later he became chairman of the Professional Cricketers' Association, succeeding Vikram Solanki.

Wallace made history on September 2, 1999 at Taunton, when he made his first-class debut against Somerset at the tender age of 17 years and 287 days. His 2nd XI debut had come two years previously as he also became first-choice behind the stumps for England Under-19s.

He won representative honours against Pakistan in 1998, New Zealand in 1998-99, and Australia in 1999, besides appearing in the 1999-2000 Youth World Cup in Sri Lanka and Malaysia.

The winter of 2000-01 saw Wallace in action once again with the England Under-19 team, this time in India, and in 2001 he became Glamorgan's regular first XI wicket-keeper. He spent the winter of 2001-02 with the ECB Academy in Australia, and led the side in several matches.

In 2002 Wallace made a composed maiden first-class century against Derbyshire in Glamorgan`s opening Championship match. He finished the summer with 61 dismissals, and was a member of the Glamorgan side that won the Norwich Union League title. His outstanding promise was recognised with selection for the ECB Academy in Australia in 2002-03, and he was Glamorgan's Young Player of the Year for 2002.

His alert glovework and deft catching behind the stumps helped Glamorgan to the National League title in 2004, and a place in Division One of the County Championship as the Welsh county won promotion. Wallace continued to score runs consistently in 2005 and 2006 even though Glamorgan struggled as a team.

Though it was his keeping that kept him in the Glamorgan side, Wallace continued to contribute regularly with the bat and in September 2009 wrote his name into Glamorgan's record books when he put on 240 for the sixth wicket against Northamptonshire. In 2011 he neared 500 dismissals in first-class cricket for the county, putting him fifth on Glamorgan's all-time list for wicketkeepers, and though he is unlikely ever to reach Eifion Jones' club record he could well find himself in the top three before he retires.
Andrew Hignell