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Full name Jeffrey Robert Thomson
Born August 16, 1950, Greenacre, Sydney, New South Wales
Current age 57 years 344 days
Major teams Australia,Middlesex,New South Wales,Queensland
Batting style Right-hand bat
Bowling style Right-arm fast
Other Commentator
Relations Son - MW Thomson
Batting and fielding averages
Mat
Inns
NO
Runs
HS
Ave
BF
SR
100
50
4s
6s
Ct
St
Tests
51
73
20
679
49
12.81
0
0
68
9
20
0
ODIs
50
30
6
181
21
7.54
280
64.64
0
0
9
2
9
0
First-class
187
216
64
2065
61
13.58
0
1
61
0
List A
88
49
10
280
21
7.17
0
0
19
0
Bowling averages
Mat
Inns
Balls
Runs
Wkts
BBI
BBM
Ave
Econ
SR
4w
5w
10
Tests
51
90
10535
5601
200
6/46
9/105
28.00
3.18
52.6
16
8
0
ODIs
50
50
2696
1942
55
4/67
4/67
35.30
4.32
49.0
1
0
0
First-class
187
33318
17864
675
7/27
26.46
3.21
49.3
28
3
List A
88
4529
3103
107
7/22
7/22
29.00
4.11
42.3
2
1
0
Career statistics
Test debut
Australia v Pakistan at Melbourne, Dec 29, 1972 - Jan 3, 1973 scorecard
Last Test
England v Australia at Birmingham, Aug 15-20, 1985 scorecard
Test statistics
ODI debut
Australia v England at Melbourne, Jan 1, 1975 scorecard
Last ODI
England v Australia at Lord's, Jun 3, 1985 scorecard
ODI statistics
First-class span
1972/73 - 1985/86
List A span
1972/73 - 1985/86
Profile
Jeff Thomson was one of the fastest bowlers to have played Test cricket. With an unusual slinging action, and an aggressive approach, he was a fearsome sight to batsmen. He debuted against Pakistan in 1972-73, but hampered by a broken bone in his foot (which he hid from the selectors) was ineffective. Recalled in 1974-5, and forming a partnership with Dennis Lillee, he terrorised the England tourists with consistent spells of extreme fast bowling, taking 33 wickets in
the series. His action put considerable stress on his body, particularly his right shoulder, and he was rarely fit enough to reach those peaks again. He adapted his methods, relying less on pure pace, and more on an excellent cutter, and seam and swing. He was always capable of unleashing a very fast bouncer that
would skid and follow the batsman from only just short of a length. He remained with the Australian side when many left to join the Packer circus in 1977, and carried their attack through two series against England and India, but left to join WSC shortly afterwards. A capable fielder, and a lower order batsman
who could hit, he was frequently heard on radio commentary during the 1997 Ashes series.
Dave Liverman
Wisden overview
Jeff Thomson's run to the wicket was undertaken at the pace of man jogging around the block, but his action was one of cricket's most explosive; tilting back in the style of a javelin thrower, he catapulted the ball at speeds seldom, if ever, attained since. He was also naturally fit, and as much a threat with old ball as new. Too hot for England in 1974-75 and West Indies the following season, a shoulder injury sustained in an on-field collision at Adelaide in November 1976 restricted him thereafter. But his psychological presence remained valuable, and he reached 200 Test wickets on his last Ashes tour in 1985. Lillee and Thomson remain a combination to conjure with, as sinister in England as Burke and Hare, or Bismarck and Tirpitz.
Gideon Haigh
