Ian Thomson

Ian Thomson was a trusty medium-fast seamer who surpassed 100 wickets in a season 12 times for Sussex. He had to wait until late in his career for international recognition - although he had been called into England's squad in Pakistan in 1954-55, a decade before the first of his five Tests, all of which were played in South Africa in 1964-65. He was an archetypal English seamer, tall (6'1") and able to get alarming bounce as well as to bring the ball in sharply on green or damp tracks - it was hardly surprising he struggled in the five Tests, taking nine wickets at 63.11. But on his day in England he was devastating, as witnessed at Lord's in 1964 when his inswingers took 4 for 23 to help win the second Gillette Cup final - a performance which cemented his tour place. He retired in 1965 but reappeared for two outings in 1972.
Martin Williamson