The Australian Cricket Team was tough to beat in the 1970s because they had two fast bowlers who could decimate the best of teams. The mere sight of Dennis Lillee and his partner Jeff Thomson running into the bowl sent shivers down the spine of the opposition teams.
Born on 16th August 1950, Jeffrey Robert Thomson came into first-class cricket in 1972. The right-arm pace and the slinky action that Thomson had didn’t give much time for the batters to respond.
Home or away, Jeff Thomson was a bowler who could make difference with just one spell. Most of the Australian skippers unleashed the fiery pace of the Queenslander when they were looking for a wicket or just hurt the opposition’s psyche.
Jeff Thomson: The ultimate fast bowling legend
It is said that the run-up of Jeff Thomson was enough to strike fear into any batter. Former England batter David Lloyd learned it the hard way as he was hurt in the groin. Speaking in 2010, more than 36 years later the former England star recalled the brutal blow he took to the groin. While the entire narration may have been funny but David Lloyd knew the menace that Jeff Thomson was with the ball.
The right-arm pacer made his Test debut versus Pakistan at the iconic MCG stadium and went wicketless during the game. A few years later Jeff Thomson created history when he unleashed a ball which was clocked at 160.6 Kilometers Per Hour. That feat was achieved at the fastest pitch in the world at the old WACA ground in Perth in 1975 versus the West Indies.
Huge names such as Richie Benaud, and former wicket keeper the late Rodney Marsh had termed Thomson the fastest-ever bowler. Some of the former opposition greats like West Indian former skipper Clive Lloyd and pacer Michael Holding had praised the former Australian great.
As the years went by Jeff Thomson started to get erratic but didn’t lose his pace. His final Test and ODI games in 1985 against England during the Ashes series. When he ended his career, Jeff Thomson had played 51 Test matches and picked 200 wickets with a best of 6/46 along with 8 fifers. His ODI career saw him play 50 matches for the Australian side and pick 55 wickets with a best of 4/67
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