:Alex Horton

{{Short description|Welsh cricketer (born 2004)}}

{{Use British English|date=July 2022}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}}

{{Infobox cricketer

| name = Alex Horton

| image =

| country =

| fullname = Alex Jack Horton

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2004|1|7|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Newport, Wales

| death_date =

| death_place =

| batting = Right-handed

| bowling =

| role = Wicket-keeper

| club1 = Glamorgan

| year1 = 2022–2023

| columns = 2

| hidedeliveries = true

| column1 = LA

| matches1 = 7

| runs1 = 81

| bat avg1 = 16.20

| 100s/50s1 = 0/0

| top score1 = 44*

| catches/stumpings1 = 1/2

| column2 = T20

| matches2 = 4

| runs2 = 1

| bat avg2 = 1.00

| 100s/50s2 = 0/0

| top score2 = 1*

| catches/stumpings2 = 0/1

| date = 23 August 2023

| source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/1147983.html Cricinfo

}}

Alex Horton (born 7 January 2004) is a Welsh cricketer who plays for Glamorgan as a wicket-keeper. Before making his senior debut for Glamorgan, Horton also played for the England under-19 cricket team.{{cite web |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/player/ben-gibbon-1147983 |title=Alex Horton |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=19 June 2022 |archive-date=5 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705225849/https://www.espncricinfo.com/player/alex-horton-1147983 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/19748193.glamorgans-alex-horton-hunts-glory-england-young-lions/ |title=Glamorgan's Alex Horton hunts glory with England Young Lions |work=South Wales Argus |access-date=19 June 2022 |archive-date=19 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619191645/https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/19748193.glamorgans-alex-horton-hunts-glory-england-young-lions/ |url-status=live }} Horton was one of the youngest players to represent Glamorgan, after he made his debut for the team in a second XI match.{{cite web |url=https://glamorgancricket.com/squad-profile/alex-horton |title=Alex Horton |work=Glamorgan County Cricket Club |access-date=19 June 2022 |archive-date=19 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619191646/https://glamorgancricket.com/squad-profile/alex-horton |url-status=live }}

From Newbridge, Caerphilly, Horton took his A-Levels at St Edward's School, Oxford.{{cite news |last1=Kirwan |first1=Chris |title=Gwent Young Lion Horton hoping World Cup fuels bid for Glamorgan breakthrough |url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/19748193.glamorgans-alex-horton-hunts-glory-england-young-lions/ |access-date=26 July 2023 |work=South Wales Argus |date=29 November 2021 |language=en}}

At the age of 17, Horton signed a five-year contract with Glamorgan, after coming through their academy programme.{{cite web |url=https://glamorgancricket.com/news/alex-horton-selected-by-england-u19s-for-west-indies-series |title=Alex Horton selected by England U19s for West Indies series |work=Glamorgan County Cricket Club |access-date=19 June 2022 |archive-date=31 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220131183027/https://glamorgancricket.com/news/alex-horton-selected-by-england-u19s-for-west-indies-series |url-status=live }} In September 2021, Horton was named in England's under-19 squad to play in a six-match series against the West Indies. Three months later, Horton was selected in England's squad to play at the 2022 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in the Caribbean.{{cite web |url=https://glamorgancricket.com/news/horton-named-in-england-u19-world-cup-squad |title=Horton named in England U19 World Cup Squad |work=Glamorgan County Cricket Club |access-date=19 June 2022 |archive-date=22 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211222143831/https://glamorgancricket.com/news/horton-named-in-england-u19-world-cup-squad |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/19799535.glamorgan-keeper-alex-horton-gets-england-world-cup-call/ |title=Glamorgan 'keeper Alex Horton gets England World Cup call |work=South Wales Argus |access-date=19 June 2022 |archive-date=8 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220408021805/https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/19799535.glamorgan-keeper-alex-horton-gets-england-world-cup-call/ |url-status=live }} In England's first match of the tournament, against Bangladesh, Horton took six catches,{{cite web |url=https://www.skysports.com/cricket/news/12123/12529070/englands-under-19-world-cup-stars-meet-the-key-players-aiming-for-glory-in-the-caribbean |title=England's Under-19 World Cup stars: Meet the key players aiming for glory in the Caribbean |work=Sky Sports |access-date=19 June 2022 |archive-date=19 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619191646/https://www.skysports.com/cricket/news/12123/12529070/englands-under-19-world-cup-stars-meet-the-key-players-aiming-for-glory-in-the-caribbean |url-status=live }} with the team winning by seven wickets.{{cite web |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/icc-under-19-world-cup-2021-22-1289790/bangladesh-under-19s-vs-england-under-19s-7th-match-group-a-1289799/full-scorecard |title=7th Match, Group A, Basseterre, January 16, 2022, ICC Under-19 World Cup |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=19 June 2022 |archive-date=19 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619191646/https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/icc-under-19-world-cup-2021-22-1289790/bangladesh-under-19s-vs-england-under-19s-7th-match-group-a-1289799/full-scorecard |url-status=live }} In the Super League semi-final match against Afghanistan, Horton scored 53 not out from 36 balls to help England reach the final of the tournament, an innings that was described as "something special".{{cite web |url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/19892525.glamorgans-alex-horton-u19-world-cup-final-england/ |title=Glamorgan's Alex Horton in U19 World Cup final with England |work=South Wales Argus |access-date=19 June 2022 |archive-date=19 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619191648/https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/19892525.glamorgans-alex-horton-u19-world-cup-final-england/ |url-status=live }} In the final of the tournament, against India, Horton took a catch to dismiss Harnoor Singh.{{cite web |url=https://readscoops.com/sports/cricket/alex-horton-2022-u19-cwc-final/ |title=Alex Horton Takes Screamer in 2022 U-19 CWC Final |work=Read Scoops |date=5 February 2022 |access-date=19 June 2022 |archive-date=5 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220205190942/https://readscoops.com/sports/cricket/alex-horton-2022-u19-cwc-final/ |url-status=live }} However, India went on to win the match and the tournament.{{cite web |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/icc-under-19-world-cup-2021-22-1289790/england-under-19s-vs-india-under-19s-final-1289840/full-scorecard |title=Final, North Sound, February 05, 2022, ICC Under-19 World Cup |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=19 June 2022 |archive-date=12 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220512165114/https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/icc-under-19-world-cup-2021-22-1289790/england-under-19s-vs-india-under-19s-final-1289840/full-scorecard |url-status=live }}

In June 2022, Horton was selected to make his first team debut for Glamorgan after their first choice wicket-keeper Chris Cooke was ruled out due to a calf injury.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/61840038 |title=Glamorgan Cricket: Debut for teenage keeper Alex Horton |work=BBC Sport |access-date=19 June 2022 |archive-date=19 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619192500/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/61840038 |url-status=live }} Horton was due to play against Gloucestershire on 18 June 2022 in their T20 Blast match. However, despite the toss taking place, the match was abandoned with no play taking place due to rain.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/61840042 |title=T20 Blast: Gloucestershire v Glamorgan rained off |work=BBC Sport |access-date=19 June 2022 |archive-date=18 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220618200524/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/61840042 |url-status=live }} The match was officially recorded as a no result,{{cite web |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/vitality-blast-2022-1297657/gloucestershire-vs-glamorgan-south-group-1297873/full-scorecard |title=South Group, Bristol, June 18, 2022, Vitality Blast |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=19 June 2022 |archive-date=21 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220621033713/http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/vitality-blast-2022-1297657/gloucestershire-vs-glamorgan-south-group-1297873/full-scorecard |url-status=live }} meaning that Horton made his Twenty20 debut despite no actual play being possible.{{cite web |url=https://glamorgancricket.com/news/glam-v-sussex-t20-head-to-head-at-cardiff |title=Glam v Sussex: T20 Head-to-Head at Cardiff |work=Glamorgan County Cricket Club |access-date=19 June 2022 |archive-date=18 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220618231557/https://glamorgancricket.com/news/glam-v-sussex-t20-head-to-head-at-cardiff |url-status=live }} The following day, in the T20 Blast match against the Sussex Sharks, Horton took part in the match, where he made his first dismissal with the stumping of Harrison Ward.{{cite web |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/vitality-blast-2022-1297657/glamorgan-vs-sussex-south-group-1297880/match-report |title=Wickets for ever-reliable Michael Neser keep Glamorgan's knockout hopes alive |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=19 June 2022 |archive-date=19 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619191647/https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/vitality-blast-2022-1297657/glamorgan-vs-sussex-south-group-1297880/match-report |url-status=live }} Glamorgan went on to win the match by four wickets.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/61840046 |title=Vitality Blast: Colin Ingram and Michael Neser star as Glamorgan beat Sussex |work=BBC Sport |access-date=19 June 2022 |archive-date=19 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619173437/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/61840046 |url-status=live }}