Profile of Greg Thomas by Dr.A.K.Hignell - Hon Statistician and Historian to Glamorgan CCC

---

Player:

JG Thomas

---

Greg Thomas had a relatively short, but at times quite spectacular, career with Glamorgan during which the fluent Welsh speaker went on to play Test cricket and became one of the fastest bowlers on the county circuit.

 

His career begun in 1979, with Thomas making his debut against the Sri Lankans at Swansea. However, he did not become a regular in the county side until 1984, after completing his college studies and after surgery for a stress fracture in his back. He showed that he had fully recovered by producing some fiery spells for both Glamorgan and Border in South Africa.

 

His pace and hostility also won Thomas a place on England`s tour to the West Indies in 1985/86, and in the First Test, the Glamorgan quickie nearly took a wicket with his first two deliveries in Test cricket, with Desmond Haynes edging his first ball over the head of first slip, before being dropped in the gully off Thomas` second delivery.

 

This was the first of 5 Tests and 3 One Day Internationals during Thomas` ten year career with Glamorgan. It was alsoa career interupted by further ailments and injuries, and remarkably Thomas` most productive summer was in 1988 when he claimed 48 first-class wickets at an average of 31. Whilst he could deliver the ball at blistering pace, he was also erratic at times, and steadily became frustrated by the slow Welsh wickets. He felt these were hindering his claims of gaining further Test recognition. Consequently, he joined Northamptonshire in 1989 and in 1989/90 he went on Mike Gatting`s `rebel` England tour to South Africa. In 1990 he took a career-best 7/75, ironically for Northants against Glamorgan, but he lost his place with the English county the following year after a pelvic injury, and was forced to retire at the end of the 1991 season.

 

(Article: Copyright © 2000 Dr.A.K.Hignell)