Test in the 1970–71 Ashes series, having by this stage in his career taken 120 wickets in 22 matches at 20.01. International career In the Test series Thomson failed to live up to expectations, taking 12 wickets in four Tests at an average of 54.50. In the Fifth Test at Melbourne he bowled bouncers at the England fast bowler John Snow, who had hit Garth McKenzie on the head in the previous Test, and six in one eight-ball over against the captain Ray Illingworth. Thomson was not warned for intimidatory bowling, which Snow thought was partisan umpiring as Snow was repeatedly warned throughout the series. In the Sixth Test, his last, he shared the new ball with Test debutant Dennis Lillee. Like Lillee, he took five wickets in the match – 2 for 94 and 3 for 79, his best innings and match figures in Tests. The series also saw the last Tests of his fellow pace bowlers Graham McKenzie, Alan Connolly and Ross Duncan. Thomson was famous for taking the first-ever wicket in ODI cricket (Geoff Boycott caught by Bill Lawry for 8 runs) at the MCG on 5 January 1971; it was his only wicket in his only ODI match. He was the most economical bowler in the match, taking 1 for 22 off eight 8-ball overs. In 1971–72 he took 4 for 13 off eight 8-ball overs for Victoria against Queensland in Brisbane, his best List-A (interstate one day) match figures. After 1970–71 he played irregularly for Victoria, and two wicketless matches in 1974–75 were his last. Later life Thomson was also a senior Australian rules football umpire, umpiring Senior Grade VFL football, at a time when there was only one field umpire, and before the transformation of the VFL into the AFL. He officiated in six VFL matches between 1970 and 1972. He worked as a primary school teacher until his fifties, then as a courier. References External links References Carter, R., "“Split Personality” Sportsman", The Age, (Thursday, 13 March 1969), p.26. 1945 births 2022 deaths Victoria cricketers Australia Test cricketers Australia One Day International cricketers Australian Football League umpires Australian cricketers Cricketers from Melbourne People from Reservoir, Victoria