Full Name

Jeffrey Robert Thomson

Born

August 16, 1950, Greenacre, Sydney, New South Wales

Age

73y 216d

Batting Style

Right hand Bat

Bowling Style

Right arm Fast

Playing Role

Bowler

RELATIONS

Other

Commentator

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

Jeff Thomson Career Stats

Bowling

FormatMatInnsBallsRunsWktsBBIBBMAveEconSR4w5w10w
Tests51901053556012006/469/10528.003.1852.61680
ODIs505026961942554/674/6735.304.3249.0100
FC187-33318178646757/27-26.463.2149.3-283
List A88-452931031077/227/2229.004.1142.3210

Batting & Fielding

FormatMatInnsNORunsHSAveBFSR100s50s4s6sCtSt
Tests5173206794912.81--00689200
ODIs50306181217.5428064.64009290
FC1872166420656113.58--01--610
List A884910280217.17--00--190
Jeffrey Robert Thomson

Explore Statsguru Analysis

Test
ODI

Debut/Last Matches of Jeff Thomson

Recent Matches of Jeff Thomson

Photos of Jeff Thomson

Jeff Thomson with his family at the Allan Border medal ceremony
Jeff Thomson was inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame at the Allan Border medals night
Jeff Thomson informal portrait
Jeff Thomson, still with that wonderful action
Jeff Thomson portrait
Jeff Thomson with Brian Lara