It was Jeff Thomson’s birthday recently – the legendary Thommo, pig shooter, fisherman, gardener, after dinner speaker and at one stage the fastest bowler in the world (true: they did a competition for it and everything).
A lot has been written about Thommo’s bowling and for good reason – who else has smashed David Lloyd’s box, Tony Greig’s toes and trained for international cricket by running after wild pigs – but in the interests of doing something different, I thought I’d shed a little light on his batting.
Thommo isn’t particularly known for his ability with the willow, as 679 test runs at an average of 13 would attest, but he’s done better than you might think. By way of tribute to everyone’s favourite Punchbowl High-educated Queenslander, I offer this list of his top ten batting performances.
1. 1974-75 Australia vs England – 1st test
The 1974-75 Ashes is remembered as being an English massacre, which in the end it was, but it didn’t start off that way. On day two of the first test, Australia were 9-257, which wasn’t that awesome, when Thommo came to the wicket with Max Walker. The two men put on 52 crucial runs, getting that all important “3” in front of the first innings total, and irritating the English as only a last-wicket stand of more than fifty runs by two tailenders can.
Thommo then took 3 wickets in England’s first innings and 6-46 in the second and we were off to the races: the massacre had started. Like Mitchell Johnson, nothing seemed to get Thommo in better bowling form than handy lower order runs.
2. 1974-75 Queensland vs Victoria – Sheffield Shield
A little-remembered incredible all-round game from Thommo at the end of the summer. In a must-win-by-a-lot-to-get-the-Shield match for Queensland, Victoria made 6-325 declared and at one stage had Queensland 6-226. Thommo came in, scored 61, taking the the total to 8-328. Queensland eventually got 357, then Thommo took 6-17 with the ball and Queensland won by ten wickets. This still wasn’t enough for Queensland to win the Shield, though -like I say, they had to win by a lot. This game was to be the first in a long (long, long, long) line of heartbreaking end-of-season matches for Queensland that Thommo played in. That 61 remained his highest first class form, incidentally.
3. 1975 Australia vs West Indies – World Cup Final
One of the first great ODIs. Australia had to chase 291 and it seemed all was lost at 8-231 when Thommo came out. Soon it was 9-233, but Thommo and Dennis Lillee hit out, putting on 41 runs, and for a moment it seemed we might pull off a miracle. Eventually Thommo was run out on 21 (damn those West Indian fielding geniuses), but the margin was only 17 runs. His batting helped make it an immortal match.
4. 1975 Australia vs England – 1st test
Once again, Thomson’s batting helped Australia get off to a good start in a series. We were 7-286 batting first when he went to the crease. He stuck around for 49, not leaving until Australia were all out for a healthy 359 (again, good to get that “3” in front of your first innings today). Thommo took 5-38 in the second innings helping Australia to an innings victory. Once more, runs = wickets. That 49 was his highest test score – he never got a half century.
5. 1977-78 Australia vs India – 1st test
Thommo wanted to join World Series Cricket but was forced to play with the establishment by his employer, radio station 4IP. Lucky for the establishment – without Thommo I think we would’ve lost this series 4-1, instead of winning it 3-2. Anyway, first day of the first test aginst India, Australia are a dicey 8-112 when Thommo comes in and puts on 34 invaluable runs with Peter Toohey – not huge but not bad, and better than the top order, who’d struggled.
After taking three wickets in India’s first innings Thommo bats even better in his second dig, scoring 41 off 54 balls, bringing Australia from an okay 8-246 to a strong 327 (career bunny Alan Hurst mades 26!). The value of these contributions are proved when Australia win the match by 16 runs (another 4 wickets to Thommo – this was probably his best all-round game of test cricket).
6. 1977-78 Australia vs India – 2nd test
Another thriller. Thommo takes six wickets but it’s his batting again that stars. Well, maybe not “stars” but definitely makes a juicy cameo. Australia need 339 to win in the second innings. It see-saws – they’re 2-172 (thank you Tony Mann), then 4-195 then 6-330 and looking like they’ve got it in the bag.
Then the two set batters, Peter Toohey and Steve Rixon, are dismissed and Australia are 8-330. Wayne Clark and Thommo at the crease… And they get the runs. Australia win by two wickets. The country’s favourite fast bowler (sorry, Dennis) has just batted Australia to vicrtory. (Think those run chases are easy? Just ask the 1981 Ashes tourists).
7. 1977-78 Australia vs Jamaica – tour game
Okay this is obscure. But cute. Thommo was appointed vice captain to Bob Simpson for the 1978 tour of the West Indies and he captained Australia in a few tour games when Simmo rested. Thommo rarely bowled himself in those matches, conserving his energy, including for this game, which was super exciting. The Jamaican team included Jeff Dujon, Lawence Rowe and Michael Holding. Australia, batting second, had to get 233 to win and collapsed from 5-214 to 8-219, with Holding leading the charge. Thommo comes to the wicket and he and Bruce Yardley got Australia home by two wickets. So there you have it – Jeff Thomson batted Australia to a victory as captain.
8. 1978-79 WSC Australia vs WSC West Indies – 2nd ODI
Thommo missed most of 1978-79 due to contractual disputes but was allowed to tour the West Indies with World Series Cricket in 1979. One of his highlights on tour was this one day game. Australia bowled first, Thommo took 5-31 with the ball, keeping the West Indies to 132. Australia’s batting wilted in response and we were 9-121 when he came to the crease and he and Max Walker saw Australia home by one wicket. Eat your heart out, Michael Bevan!
9. 1978-79 WSC Australia vs WSC West Indies – 3rd supertest
Yet again, good bowling form helps Thommo’s batting, in what is probably the greatest World Series supertest. Thommo’s 5-78 gave Australia, batting first, a small lead. We were 9-256 in the second innings when Thommo and his old mate Len Pascoe put on 26 runs (Thommo 5, Pascoe 19). These proved crucial on a thrilling last day when Australia won by 24 runs.
10. 1982-83 Australia vs England – 4th test
The one innings on this list I know everyone reading this article will remember. Thommo had helped bowl Australia to victory in the previous two tests (82-83 was his last really successful summer of international cricket) and took five wickets in this one, but the Australian batters sunk to the occasion in the chase and we were 9-218, with a target of 291. Thommo joined Allan Border – who’d been out of form through the series – at the wicket.
And dammit if we didn’t almost get them… ball by ball, run by run, in front of thousands of screaming Melbournians, with Thommo making it to 21 and Australia within one boundary of victory… before Botham finally got him. Great game, but.
Anyway, happy birthday, Thommo. Everyone remembers your feats with the ball – here’s a tip of the hat for what you did with the bat. Averages aren’t everything.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
"NSW banned him until the very last Shield game of 73/74" Why was he banned? His football career with Melita Eagles came to an end with punching the ref. What did he do in cricket get banned?
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
Great Stuff Stephen. Always a treat when tailenders hit out and/or dig in. I remember the 49. Lillee got his highest, 73 no, in the same series. Was it Viv Richards with 4 or 5 run outs in the WC final? I also remember Roy Fredericks hooking Lillee for six only to step on his stumps.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Next will be the “The 10 Greatest Wickets” by Mathew Hayden. We could also have “The Battle of the Footy Codes The 10 Most Inspirational Coaching Moments: Kevin Sheedy v Wayne Bennett” and Bob Dylan Sings Cher
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
It was the most fierce attack England had suffered since the Blitzkrieg.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
Terrific read Stephen. I reckon any tailender with a double figure average is no mug and especially when a guy like Thommo would be facing some serious chin music from the Windies quicks. Any time he scored his average as a number 11 was a bonus IMO. I think many will not remember he had a terrific throwing arm as well; at least it was before that collision with Alan Turner. I remember a Shield game when he was playing for NSW and he let a throw fly from the boundary to the keeper. Vaguely recall the keeper catching the ball then seconds later, the gloves flying off and the keeper leaving the ground for treatment
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
I vividly remember watching Thommo in the Test in Sydney. I know many will talk about Ahktar and his pace, but for mine, seeing both he & Lillee live, there's not a chance Ahktar was faster, IMO. I too was one of many who laughed at the Poms but remember watching Doug Walters in the nets facing up to a bowling machine with speeds approaching 100mph. I was standing behind him and he let one delivery go. Me and about 50 other young fellas s**t ourselves when that ball hit the net. It didn't seem to stop and kept coming straight for us! As you rightly say, the Poms showed immense courage to face both of them - especially Colin Cowdrey.
Stephen Vagg
Roar Guru
Not that long actually... just going through the scorecards, really. I knew of the 82-83 innings of course and the 75 World Cup chase... I wondered if there were more and it turned out there was. Great competitor.
Diamond Jackie
Roar Rookie
Just the type of obscure article I have come to know and love from the Roar. God only knows how long this took to research Stephen - well done !!!
All day Roseville all day
Roar Guru
I note that three of these innings were in the first Test of a series, and another in a second game. So, just like Stan McCabe and Michael Slater, he reserved his best batting performances for the beginnings of rubbers, when ascendancy needed to be established !
All day Roseville all day
Roar Guru
Relatively few great memorable played by tailenders in T20 games...
sheek
Roar Guru
Thanks Stephen, In the summer of 1974/75, I was 18 & freshly out of school. My life, my female heartbreaks & all my hard learnt mistakes were ahead of me! It was a great time. And it was made better by the Ashes cricket. The Aussies of 1974/75 weren’t our best-ever team, but they were up there, easily top 10. A bit of frailty in the batting was its weakness. Even the great Greg Chappell was still approaching his zenith. But the 4 main bowlers were outstanding – Lillee, Thomson, Walker & Mallet. I was disappointed Boycott pulled out & Snow wasn’t selected. Those two selections would have made England as strong as possible. But it wouldn’t have altered the final outcome, just made for a more interesting, intense series. It was good anyway. Thomson remains the fastest pace bowler I’ve seen, & I’ve been following test cricket since the mid-1960s. I don’t care for speed guns. In 1974/75 Thommo bowled faster than at anytime afterwards, which was still supersonic. What made that summer of 74/75 extra special, is that what eventuated was by no means certain. Lillee was returning from a serious back injury which kept him out of first class cricket for the entire 73/74 season. Would he last the season, or maybe break down again. Another promising young fast bowler Jeff Hammond also suffered a back injury, but he never regained full pace afterwards. Thomson was super fast but erratic. NSW banned him until the very last Shield game of 73/74, whereby he promptly took 9 wickets against Qld, who even more promptly signed him up to cross the Tweed & join them! The jury was out as to whether he was the real deal. In his test debut two summers previously, he had hidden a broken bone in his foot so he could play. His results were obviously & understandably pitiful. In the week before the first test, Thommo was told to curb his speed in the Qld vs Eng match. The Poms didn’t know what was coming. In the first test, Thommo unleashed hell, taking 9 wickets, including 6 in the second innings. It was a wonderful summer for us Aussie supporters. It also hastened helmets which started arriving on the scene by 1976. Looking back, I’m a bit ashamed we laughed at England’s discomfort against Thomas’ searing pace & Lillie’s increasing pace as the summer wore on. Many of the Pommie batters were brave against pace rarely seen before or since.