Jeffrey Robert Thomson, a remarkable bowler

Jeff Thomson first played against England in 74 against Mike Denness side, in his only test against Pakistan he had an inauspicious start by getting 100 for 1 wicket with a fractured toe.

In the first test he and Lillee really troubled the English batsmen and finished the series with 33 wickets in 5 tests.

As per the book “Idols” by Sunil Gavaskar , at the end of the first session Rodney Marsh turned to Ian and Greg Chappell in the slips and said that his fingers were hurting from the battering taken by their thunder bolts.

At the end of the first test Jeff had picked up 33 wickets and was behind Clarie Grimmets 44 wickets, but unfortunately due to an injury on the rest day. He took no further part in the game and ended up with 33 wickets.

Now the Aussies had got an opening pair to match Hall and Griffith, Trueman and Statham. Jeff with his unruly mop of hair was very popular with the kids. He was also a popular character with the beautiful girls.

Jeff’s fastest timing had been 99MPH which no other fast bowler had achieved. Roberts, Holding, Croft, Garner and Lillee had not achieved this speed.

When Pakistan visited Australia again he had a score to settle with them, because the last time he met the Paks he had a broken toe. He was hit for 100 runs and got only 1 wicket.

After having got 2 wickets he bowled a bouncer to Zaheer Abbas which was hooked by the batsman and Alan Turner and Jeff both went for the catch and collided. Both crashed to the ground and later it was discovered that he had a fracture. A metal pin had to be inserted in his shoulder, and all feared that his career had ended.

His shoulder healed and he toured England in 1977. The Aussies lost the series 3-1. He was involved in a number of controversies especially in the world cup of 1975 by knocking Sunil Wettimuny on his foot.

When the Windies toured down under in 1976 he and Dennis Lillee destroyed the Windies batting line up. The Windies had admitted that they had not faced up to this type of pace bowling of Dennis and Jeff earlier.

Jeff Thomson will go down in the annals as one of the fastest bowlers produced by the world.