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Until today, I didn’t realise that I had been present at the end of a legend’s career – or at least his Test career.
I was kind of there for the start of it, too. I can’t think that I have done that for too many others, if any.
The legend is the one and only Jeffrey Robert Thomson. I may have picked up commentary on some of his debut, but I doubt it. I do know that I listened to his third Test, in Perth in 1974, because I remember playing with the tuning knob on my radio – which for some reason was shaped like a monkey’s head – and hearing Test Match Special crackling over the airwaves. And wondering why they were playing cricket in Scotland in the dead of winter. Well, geography wasn’t my strong point when I was 6.
What I didn’t know was that, after Australia’s thumping defeat at Edgbaston in 1985, Thommo never played Test cricket again. Which means that I didn’t see his last wicket – that happened the night before – but I did see his last catch, a flying, tumbling effort to dismiss Ian Botham on the square leg boundary, after Both had flayed 18 off 7 balls as England sought a declaration.
By that stage, he was bowling first change and clearly past his best. But I never realised that I was witnessing his swansong. Much as I enjoyed the demolition of Border’s side in that game, Thommo, the man who made his name wreaking similar havoc upon the English, deserved a better send off.
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Jrod i thought you were only 30!!! But you say you were 6 in 1974…just kidding dude, skivers post, but you knew it was gonna happen.
Nothing gets in the way of a true cricket fan – not even being six years old.
Rishabh´s last blog ..Busy^infinity, atleast for another day
Cam, even I felt very young for a moment when I read 1974! And then, came across your post.. sigh!
cb
Skiver, I was at the MCG in 2008 when the Saffers played Australia and won after looking down the barrel at 7/180 odd in the first dig. I remember watching an apparently injured Brett Lee consistently find the sweet spot of every Saffer bat with 0/68 in the first innings, and then perform even better in the second with 0/49. If I had of known it was his last test, I would have laughed a hell of a lot harder. It was an apt send off for a guy who could never muster the 5 day game.