Jeff Thomson was the opening partner of fellow fast bowler Dennis Lillee; their combination was one of the most fearsome in Test cricket history.
23 Facts About Jeff Thomson
2.
Jeff Thomson was inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame in 2016.
3.
In 1979, Jeff Thomson won a fastest-bowling competition held by the Australian television station Channel 9, in a year in which he was banned from playing professional cricket due to striking a soccer referee.
4.
Four decades on, Jeff Thomson mentioned in an episode of Cricket Legends that he had intentionally bowled full tosses for the competition in order to improve his score.
5.
Incidents were reported of Jeff Thomson delivering byes which hit the sight screen behind the facing batsman after just one bounce on the pitch.
6.
Jeff Thomson has said that one of his fastest spells was one against the West Indies in Barbados during World Series Cricket.
7.
In 1992, after a practice session bowling in the nets to several of the Queensland batsmen, including Allan Border, Jeff Thomson was encouraged to play for the team, as, even at the age of 42, he was still faster than any of the Queensland bowlers.
8.
Jeff Thomson made his first-class debut for New South Wales in October 1972 against Western Australia, replacing David Colley, who was injured.
9.
Jeff Thomson replaced Bob Massie, who was picked in the first Test side.
10.
Jeff Thomson bowled waywardly and was not picked to tour the West Indies.
11.
Jeff Thomson took nine wickets in the game, helping to prevent Queensland from winning the Shield.
12.
Queensland captain Greg Chappell convinced Jeff Thomson to move to Queensland for the following season, which he did, playing for Toombul District Cricket Club in the local Brisbane competition.
13.
Jeff Thomson did not put a lot of work on the ball with his fingers, so he did not seam or swing the ball much, and he adopted an uncomplicated approach to his work.
14.
Jeff Thomson once described his bowling as, "I just roll up and go whang".
15.
Jeff Thomson was less at home on the slower wickets of England on the tour that followed and took only four wickets in five matches during the inaugural World Cup.
16.
Jeff Thomson conceded a lot of runs but often induced the West Indies batsmen to play injudicious shots.
17.
Lillee missed the tour because of back problems, and Jeff Thomson responded as the spearhead of the attack by taking 23 wickets at 25.34 average.
18.
Jeff Thomson did not hesitate to sign on, but his manager pointed out that his contract with 4IP required him to be available for Queensland.
19.
Jeff Thomson said he would remain available for Sheffield Shield.
20.
Jeff Thomson married model Cheryl Wilson after they caught each other's eyes during a cricket game; they have been a couple for more than 40 years.
21.
Jeff Thomson bought a Ford Falcon Phase III GTHO for $23,000 in the late 1980s, which in modern times is in incredibly high demand with collectors and investors.
22.
Jeff Thomson sold his Phase III for A$1,030,000 in 2018; it still bears its original seat belts, carpets, spare tyre and log books.
23.
In 2015, Jeff Thomson joined Ian Chappell, Len Pascoe, and Doug Walters in a charity luncheon to raise money to fight depression.