Former Surrey all-rounder http://www.senore.com/Cricket/David-James-Thomas-c52898 dies at 53 – Cricket News Update
Former Surrey and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Gloucestershire-c785 all-rounder David Thomas passed away on July 29 at the age of 53. Thomas, who had been suffering from Multiple Sclerosis, is survived by a wife and four children.
Despite the fact that he was born in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Warwickshire-c862, Thomas made his debut for Surrey, for whom he played from 1977 to 1987. A left-arm pacer, and a reliable lower-order batsman, Thomas, despite his obvious talent, never managed to cement a place for himself
in England’s national side, dodged as he was by illness and overshadowed by contemporaries such as Ian Botham. Although he was named in the Test squad several times, he never made it to the final 11.
The left-armer’s career spanned 150 first-class matches (with 336 wickets to his credit) and 152 list-A matches (during which he claimed 140 scalps), during 1977 to 1988. Out of these, he claimed 57 first-class scalps in 1983, and 60 wickets in 1984.
While affiliated with Surrey, Thomas played four Lord's finals for the club, in between 1979 and 1982. While the first three campaigns were unsuccessful, the team finally tasted victory in the 1982 NatWest Trophy final against Warwickshire. The pacer won
the Man of the Match award for his 3 for 26, which saw him claiming crucial wickets, including those of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Geoffrey-William-Humpage-c58919, both of whom were sent back to the pavilion on ducks.
Thomas shifted from http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Surrey-c851 to Gloucestershire at the end of 1987, but was diagnosed shortly thereafter with Multiple Sclerosis, while seeking treatment for a recurrent groin injury. The illness became a part of his life, and forced him into an early retirement
from cricket, at the age of 29.
“The passing of David 'Teddy' Thomas is deeply sad to all who had the pleasure to have played with him or against him, to all of the cricket lovers who watched him bat and bowl with such pride, passion and talent and all those supporters who have enjoyed
his company,” said his former Gloucestershire team-mate Andy Brassington.
“... while suffering from this terrible illness he spent endless time raising funds and awareness for the Multiple Sclerosis charity ... you will be greatly missed by all of your family at Gloucestershire, our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.”
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