Alfonso Thomas
Encyclopedia
Alfonso Clive Thomas is a South African cricket
er who has represented his country in one Twenty20 International
. He is a right arm fast-medium
bowler and a big hitting lower-order batsman. He currently plays domestic cricket for Somerset County Cricket Club
where he is often referred to as 'The Great Alfonso' due to his high skill of bowling at the end of an innings giving away very few runs. He also plays for Pune Warriors India in their debut season as part of the IPL
.
in the 1998/99 season. In three first-class matches for Western Province B, he took two wickets, and did not play another first-class match until the 2000/01 season after a move to North West
. His North West and SuperSport Series
debut came against Gauteng, where he finished with match figures of 6/120. Thomas scored his maiden century only two games later, hitting 106 not out
while batting at number ten
, setting a record tenth wicket partnership for North West of 174 with Garth Roe as he did so. Four months later, Thomas was involved in another record breaking partnership for North West. With the team at 87/7 against Western Province, Thomas joined Morne Strydom at the crease. 492 balls later when Strydom was caught by Neil Johnson, the pair had added 204 to the score; Thomas eventually going on to score 95 not out. The following match, Thomas achieved his first five-wicket haul in first-class cricket, as he took the wickets of Easterns
top five
batsmen during a ten wicket victory; finishing the innings with 6/26.
Thomas started the 2001/02 season on top form, claiming five-wickets in an innings on three occasions in the first five games, against Boland, Western Province, and Griqualand West. He represented South Africa in the Hong Kong International Cricket Sixes
in November 2001, having a stand-out performance in a Pool One match against Hong Kong
as he took 2/4 in his over. He finished the 2001/02 season as North West's leading wicket-taker, with 35 wickets at an average of 22.14. His form saw him picked for South African Board President's XI and South Africa A
to play the touring India A side. In a shortened 2002/03 South African domestic season due to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003, Thomas only appeared in three first-class and five one-day matches for North West, although he did once more represent South Africa in the Hong Kong International Cricket Sixes. He made his second career century against Northerns
, making 119*.
He moved to Northerns
for the start of the 2003/04 season and had immediate success with 36 wickets in his eight SuperSport Series matches. His debut for the club, in which he took three wickets and three catches during Western Province's first innings to help restrict them to 173, was overshadowed by future Somerset
team-mate Charl Willoughby
, who took 7/56 & 4/56 to earn himself man of the match. In the Standard Bank Cup, Thomas' 17 wickets helped the club finish third in the league, which saw them qualify for the semi-finals. The 2003/04 season also saw the introduction of Twenty20
cricket in South Africa in the form of the Standard Bank Pro20 Series. Thomas represented Titans
, a re-branded team merging Northerns and Easterns. He finished the Pro20 season with five wickets from six matches, including three vital dismissals in the group match against Eagles
, when he claimed the wickets of Eagles' top three batsmen in his first two overs, helping to lead his team to a 90 run victory.
Since then he has constantly represented South Africa A and was part of the Test tour to India, standing in for an injured Andre Nel
.
He has represented South Africa in a Twenty20 International, taking 3/25
fourth overseas player of the season, playing nine matches for them through August and September. The following summer, he signed for Somerset
under the Kolpak ruling.
, Thomas played a good lower-middle order
innings to guide Somerset to a victory over Deccan Chargers
. When Thomas came in, Somerset required 55 runs off the remaining 37 balls of the match. A record eighth wicket partnership for the club meant that when James Hildreth
lost his wicket from the first ball of the final over, Somerset needed five runs off as many balls. The following ball resulted in no score, and then the wicket of number ten Max Waller
. This wicket allowed Thomas on strike, and he struck a boundary off the fourth ball of the over, and then after a near run out
involving number eleven Charl Willoughby
, Thomas hit another four from the final ball to grant Somerset the win.
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er who has represented his country in one Twenty20 International
Twenty20 International
A Twenty20 International is a form of cricket which is played over 20 overs per side between two national cricket teams. The game is played under the rules of Twenty20 cricket...
. He is a right arm fast-medium
Fast bowling
Fast bowling, sometimes known as pace bowling, is one of the two main approaches to bowling in the sport of cricket. The other is spin bowling...
bowler and a big hitting lower-order batsman. He currently plays domestic cricket for Somerset County Cricket Club
Somerset County Cricket Club
Somerset County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Somerset...
where he is often referred to as 'The Great Alfonso' due to his high skill of bowling at the end of an innings giving away very few runs. He also plays for Pune Warriors India in their debut season as part of the IPL
Indian Premier League
The Indian Premier League is a professional league for Twenty20 cricket competition in India. It was initiated by the Board of Control for Cricket in India , headquartered in Mumbai, and is supervised by BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla, who serves as the league's Chairman and Commissioner...
.
South African domestic -career
Thomas made his first-class debut playing for Western Province B in Newlands, Cape TownNewlands, Cape Town
Newlands is an upmarket suburb of Cape Town, South Africa.It is located at the foot of Table Mountain in the Southern Suburbs of Cape Town, and is the wettest suburb in South Africa due to its high winter rainfall...
in the 1998/99 season. In three first-class matches for Western Province B, he took two wickets, and did not play another first-class match until the 2000/01 season after a move to North West
North West cricket team
North West cricket team plays first-class cricket in South Africa.For the purposes of the SuperSport Series, North West has merged with Gauteng North West cricket team (formerly Western Transvaal cricket team) plays first-class cricket in South Africa.For the purposes of the SuperSport Series,...
. His North West and SuperSport Series
SuperSport Series
The SuperSport Series is the main domestic first class cricket competition in South Africa, first contested in 1889-90. From 1990-91 it became known as the Castle Cup, and from 1996-97 by its current title...
debut came against Gauteng, where he finished with match figures of 6/120. Thomas scored his maiden century only two games later, hitting 106 not out
Not out
In cricket, a batsman will be not out if he comes out to bat in an innings and has not been dismissed by the end of the innings. One may similarly describe a batsman as not out while the innings is still in progress...
while batting at number ten
Batting order (cricket)
In cricket, the batting order is the sequence in which batsmen play through their team's innings, there always being two batsmen taking part at any one time...
, setting a record tenth wicket partnership for North West of 174 with Garth Roe as he did so. Four months later, Thomas was involved in another record breaking partnership for North West. With the team at 87/7 against Western Province, Thomas joined Morne Strydom at the crease. 492 balls later when Strydom was caught by Neil Johnson, the pair had added 204 to the score; Thomas eventually going on to score 95 not out. The following match, Thomas achieved his first five-wicket haul in first-class cricket, as he took the wickets of Easterns
Easterns cricket team
Easterns cricket team has played first-class cricket in South Africa since October 1991.For the purposes of the SuperSport Series, Easterns has merged with Northerns to form the Titans.-Honours:* Currie Cup - 2002–03; shared - * Standard Bank Cup - * South African...
top five
Batting order (cricket)
In cricket, the batting order is the sequence in which batsmen play through their team's innings, there always being two batsmen taking part at any one time...
batsmen during a ten wicket victory; finishing the innings with 6/26.
Thomas started the 2001/02 season on top form, claiming five-wickets in an innings on three occasions in the first five games, against Boland, Western Province, and Griqualand West. He represented South Africa in the Hong Kong International Cricket Sixes
Hong Kong International Cricket Sixes
The Hong Kong Cricket Sixes is an annual 10-team international cricket tournament held at the Kowloon Cricket Club and fully sanctioned by the International Cricket Council. The tournament is made for television, with rules and a venue that encourage aggressive batting and high scoring...
in November 2001, having a stand-out performance in a Pool One match against Hong Kong
Hong Kong cricket team
The Hong Kong cricket team represents Hong Kong in international cricket. It played its first match in 1866 and has been an associate member of the International Cricket Council since 1969....
as he took 2/4 in his over. He finished the 2001/02 season as North West's leading wicket-taker, with 35 wickets at an average of 22.14. His form saw him picked for South African Board President's XI and South Africa A
South Africa A cricket team
The South Africa A cricket team is a national cricket team representing South Africa. It is the 'second-tier' of international South African cricket, below the full South Africa national cricket team. Matches played by South Africa A are not considered to be Test matches or One Day...
to play the touring India A side. In a shortened 2002/03 South African domestic season due to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003, Thomas only appeared in three first-class and five one-day matches for North West, although he did once more represent South Africa in the Hong Kong International Cricket Sixes. He made his second career century against Northerns
Northerns cricket team
Northerns cricket team has played first-class cricket in South Africa since December 1937....
, making 119*.
He moved to Northerns
Northerns cricket team
Northerns cricket team has played first-class cricket in South Africa since December 1937....
for the start of the 2003/04 season and had immediate success with 36 wickets in his eight SuperSport Series matches. His debut for the club, in which he took three wickets and three catches during Western Province's first innings to help restrict them to 173, was overshadowed by future Somerset
Somerset County Cricket Club
Somerset County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Somerset...
team-mate Charl Willoughby
Charl Willoughby
Charl Myles Willoughby is a South African cricketer who played two Tests and three ODIs for South Africa between 2000 and 2003. He played for Boland and Western Province before spending two seasons with the Cape Cobras. He has also played English county cricket, and after a season with...
, who took 7/56 & 4/56 to earn himself man of the match. In the Standard Bank Cup, Thomas' 17 wickets helped the club finish third in the league, which saw them qualify for the semi-finals. The 2003/04 season also saw the introduction of Twenty20
Twenty20
Twenty20 is a form of cricket, originally introduced in England for professional inter-county competition by the England and Wales Cricket Board , in 2003. A Twenty20 game involves two teams, each has a single innings, batting for a maximum of 20 overs. Twenty20 cricket is also known as T20 cricket...
cricket in South Africa in the form of the Standard Bank Pro20 Series. Thomas represented Titans
Titans cricket team
The Nashua Titans is the name used by the combined Easterns and Northerns first class cricket teams in South Africa. The home venues of the Titans are at SuperSport Park, Centurion and Willowmoore Park, Benoni...
, a re-branded team merging Northerns and Easterns. He finished the Pro20 season with five wickets from six matches, including three vital dismissals in the group match against Eagles
Eagles cricket team
The Chevrolet Knights is the name used by the combined Free State cricket team and Griqualand West first class cricket teams in South Africa. The team previously competed as the Diamond Eagles...
, when he claimed the wickets of Eagles' top three batsmen in his first two overs, helping to lead his team to a 90 run victory.
Since then he has constantly represented South Africa A and was part of the Test tour to India, standing in for an injured Andre Nel
Andre Nel
André Nel is a South African cricketer who played Test cricket and ODIs as a fast bowler but has since retired opting to play county cricket for Surrey.-International career:...
.
He has represented South Africa in a Twenty20 International, taking 3/25
English county career
In August 2007, Thomas signed as Warwickshire'sWarwickshire County Cricket Club
Warwickshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Warwickshire. Its limited overs team is called the Warwickshire Bears. Their kit colours are black and gold and the shirt sponsor...
fourth overseas player of the season, playing nine matches for them through August and September. The following summer, he signed for Somerset
Somerset County Cricket Club
Somerset County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Somerset...
under the Kolpak ruling.
2009 Champions League Twenty20
In their first match of the 2009 Champions League Twenty202009 Champions League Twenty20
The 2009 Champions League Twenty20 was the first edition of the Champions League Twenty20, an international club cricket tournament. It was held in India between 8 October and 23 October 2009 and featured 12 domestic teams from Australia, England, India, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka and...
, Thomas played a good lower-middle order
Batting order (cricket)
In cricket, the batting order is the sequence in which batsmen play through their team's innings, there always being two batsmen taking part at any one time...
innings to guide Somerset to a victory over Deccan Chargers
Deccan Chargers
Hyderabad Deccan Chargers known in short as DC or 'Chargers' is a cricket franchise that represents the city of Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League...
. When Thomas came in, Somerset required 55 runs off the remaining 37 balls of the match. A record eighth wicket partnership for the club meant that when James Hildreth
James Hildreth
James Charles Hildreth is an English cricketer who plays for Somerset County Cricket Club. He attended Millfield School, Somerset. He is a right-handed batsman and occasional right-arm medium pace bowler. Hildreth represented England at all youth levels including the 2003-04 Under-19 World cup...
lost his wicket from the first ball of the final over, Somerset needed five runs off as many balls. The following ball resulted in no score, and then the wicket of number ten Max Waller
Max Waller
Max Thomas Charles Waller is an English cricketer. He is a right-handed batsman and a leg break bowler...
. This wicket allowed Thomas on strike, and he struck a boundary off the fourth ball of the over, and then after a near run out
Run out
Run out is a method of dismissal in the sport of cricket. It is governed by Law 38 of the Laws of cricket.-The rules:A batsman is out Run out if at any time while the ball is in play no part of his bat or person is grounded behind the popping crease and his wicket is fairly put down by the opposing...
involving number eleven Charl Willoughby
Charl Willoughby
Charl Myles Willoughby is a South African cricketer who played two Tests and three ODIs for South Africa between 2000 and 2003. He played for Boland and Western Province before spending two seasons with the Cape Cobras. He has also played English county cricket, and after a season with...
, Thomas hit another four from the final ball to grant Somerset the win.