Albert Thomas (cricketer)
Encyclopedia
Albert Edward Thomas was a Cricketer
for Northamptonshire
(1919–1933) and Wales(1927). Thomas was a Right-armed Batter and bowler who bowled at fast-medium pace. During his time at Northamptonshire, he took a total of 817 wickets making him the clubs 5th highest wicket taker. Albert Thomas died on 21 March 1965 in Kidderminster, Worcestershire, England
.
Thomas bowled over 63,000 balls for Northamptonshire, and opposing batsmen scored off of the Welsh medium-pacer at an average of just under two runs an over. It was his control that was a significant feature of the clubs bowling attack following the First World War. Furthermore, his approach to life mirrored his approach to cricket; sound, level-headed and a calming influence on some of his more temperamental colleagues. Billeted in Northampton during the war years, Thomas had attracted the attention of Groundsman Alf Stockwin when he came to bowl in the nets at Wantage Road
. His debut, against the Australian Imperial Forces side in 1919, was not a great success, but Northampton Grammar School took him on as groundsman and coach, giving Northamptonshire the opportunity to keep tabs on him. They decided to take another look and he justified their interest with 9-30 against Yorkshire
at Bradford
in 1920 with the last seven wickets only costing him six runs, and one lifting ball hit wicketkeeper Walter Buswell in the eye and put him out of the match. Only 'Bumper' Wells' dismissal of Roy Kilner
prevented the county's first 'all-ten'.
His place in the squad secure, Thomas proceeded to record some staggering analyses over the next decade. In 1926, against Leicestershire
at Aylestone Road, he took 2-42 from 45 overs; and that was a costly effort compared to his 3-17 from 34 overs, including 23 maidens, on the same ground in 1930. That same season saw him earn a £2 bonus from the Mayor of Northampton after he and Vallance Jupp
skittled Bill Woodfull
's Australians, including Donald Bradman
, for 93 and made them follow on. Another touring side to fall foul of him were the 1924 South Africans, against whom he claimed 8-96, and Thomas represented the Players against the Gentlemen at Lords in 1928.
An elbow injury, which necessitated surgery, ended his County Career in 1933, he was granted a testimonial which didn't amount to much, and turned to the Birmingham League where he sent down many more maidens for Kidderminster, Aston Unity and Old Hill before putting away his boots in 1948.
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
for Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire County Cricket Club
Northamptonshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Northamptonshire. Its limited overs team is called the Northants Steelbacks. The traditional club colour is Maroon. During the...
(1919–1933) and Wales(1927). Thomas was a Right-armed Batter and bowler who bowled at fast-medium pace. During his time at Northamptonshire, he took a total of 817 wickets making him the clubs 5th highest wicket taker. Albert Thomas died on 21 March 1965 in Kidderminster, Worcestershire, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Career
(Adapted from the book '100 greats of Northamptonshire County Cricket Club);Thomas bowled over 63,000 balls for Northamptonshire, and opposing batsmen scored off of the Welsh medium-pacer at an average of just under two runs an over. It was his control that was a significant feature of the clubs bowling attack following the First World War. Furthermore, his approach to life mirrored his approach to cricket; sound, level-headed and a calming influence on some of his more temperamental colleagues. Billeted in Northampton during the war years, Thomas had attracted the attention of Groundsman Alf Stockwin when he came to bowl in the nets at Wantage Road
County Cricket Ground, Northampton
The County Ground, is a cricket venue on Wantage Road in the Abington area of Northampton, UK. It is home to Northamptonshire County Cricket Club....
. His debut, against the Australian Imperial Forces side in 1919, was not a great success, but Northampton Grammar School took him on as groundsman and coach, giving Northamptonshire the opportunity to keep tabs on him. They decided to take another look and he justified their interest with 9-30 against Yorkshire
Yorkshire County Cricket Club
Yorkshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Yorkshire as one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure....
at Bradford
Bradford
Bradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
in 1920 with the last seven wickets only costing him six runs, and one lifting ball hit wicketkeeper Walter Buswell in the eye and put him out of the match. Only 'Bumper' Wells' dismissal of Roy Kilner
Roy Kilner
Roy Kilner was an English professional cricketer who played nine Test matches for England between 1924 and 1926. An all-rounder, he played for Yorkshire County Cricket Club between 1911 and 1927. In all first-class matches, he scored 14,707 runs at an average of 30.01 and took 1,003 wickets at an...
prevented the county's first 'all-ten'.
His place in the squad secure, Thomas proceeded to record some staggering analyses over the next decade. In 1926, against Leicestershire
Leicestershire County Cricket Club
Leicestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Leicestershire. It has also been representative of the county of Rutland....
at Aylestone Road, he took 2-42 from 45 overs; and that was a costly effort compared to his 3-17 from 34 overs, including 23 maidens, on the same ground in 1930. That same season saw him earn a £2 bonus from the Mayor of Northampton after he and Vallance Jupp
Vallance Jupp
Vallance William Crisp Jupp was an amateur cricketer who played for Sussex and Northamptonshire...
skittled Bill Woodfull
Bill Woodfull
William Maldon "Bill" Woodfull OBE was an Australian cricketer of the 1920s and 1930s. He captained both Victoria and Australia, and was best known for his dignified and moral conduct during the tumultuous bodyline series in 1932–33 that almost saw the end of Anglo-Australian cricketing ties...
's Australians, including Donald Bradman
Donald Bradman
Sir Donald George Bradman, AC , often referred to as "The Don", was an Australian cricketer, widely acknowledged as the greatest batsman of all time...
, for 93 and made them follow on. Another touring side to fall foul of him were the 1924 South Africans, against whom he claimed 8-96, and Thomas represented the Players against the Gentlemen at Lords in 1928.
An elbow injury, which necessitated surgery, ended his County Career in 1933, he was granted a testimonial which didn't amount to much, and turned to the Birmingham League where he sent down many more maidens for Kidderminster, Aston Unity and Old Hill before putting away his boots in 1948.
External links
- Albert Thomas at CricinfoCricinfoESPNcricinfo is believed to be the largest cricket-related website on the World Wide Web. Content includes news,articles, live scorecards,live text commentary and a comprehensive and searchable database called 'StatsGuru', of historical matches and players from the 18th century to the present...
- Albert Thomas at CricketArchiveCricketArchiveCricketArchive is a website that aims to provide a comprehensive archive of records relating to the sport of cricket. It claims to be the most comprehensive cricket database on the internet, including scorecards for all matches of first-class cricket , List A cricket , Women's Test cricket and...