Jeff Thomson's colourful Hall Of Fame speech

One of the fastest bowlers the world has ever seen, Jeff Thomson, has delivered a highly-entertaining and expletive-laden spech at the AB Medal awards

[@Aleander1988]

Nearly shed a tear at the end. What a genuine bloke. Thommo will always be a legend.

[@BlokeBritish]

tats it Riddo

[@TopperPenquin]

If it ain't Cold there's no Gold.

[@TopperPenquin]

M32

[@martinct2443]

As an English cricket fan who grew up with Thomo terrorising English batsmen, I hated what did to us but admired his talent. This clip made me admire him even more, what a true gent and a real class act.

[@vka337]

Once Ravi Shastri told a story about Thommo when they were doing commentary in Sri Lanka in 2003 or 04, Marvin Attapattu had just scored a hundred and his parents were celebrating, Thommo went something like "and celebrating Attapattu's success are Papa Pattu and Mama Pattu"!! Legend.

[@Jigson05]

hahahahah

[@sudipchatterjee]

One particular thing that I like about Thommo is the way he recognizes the complexity of the life of a modern cricketer. Very few former cricketers do that. It is just like his bowling: simple and straightforward.

[@micamojo]

well said mate

[@libertyordeaf]

Thommo speaks like a coarse bogan but there was a lot of wisdom in this speech.

[@rv_316]

Absolutely right...👍🏼

[@RajivSambasivan]

@@libertyordeaf in a way, every generation is judged so much more, scrutinized so much more. Maybe the stars of Thommo's generation didn't make as much money as the current ones, but it sure looks like they had a better time.

[@libertyordeaf]

@@RajivSambasivan Yes, they were in the public eye but not excessively so. I followed sport in his era and cricketers were never even thought of between March and October, unless there was an Ashes tour on. I think they trained little, played hard and partied harder.

[@SreeFromAfrica]

that last line brought a tear.....the parents who take their little ones to the games!!!...thank you Mr Thomson!!!

[@peterparsons2414]

I had a drink with him once at the Novotel North Beach Wollongong. We talked about cricket and I said I grew up watching him bowl and he responded in saying "sometimes I didn't even know where it was going but I knew it was fast".

[@varunsubramanian9226]

The last part from Thommo was so true. He almost shed a tear and so did I. He is awesome.

[@tigerarmyrule]

The Thommo of 1974 to '76 was the fastest greatest speed bowler ever. he was a superb sight.

[@kevinmoor26]

I have been watching Test cricket for fifty years and have never seen a bowler as fast as Thommo.

[@neilpieterse9614]

What a player! Apparently at his peak he bowled in the high 140’s, faster than Lilee. Sometimes on the wild side.

[@MrT67]

@@neilpieterse9614 Quicker than that I suspect. I saw him in '78. In that series against NZ he yorked John Morrison and broke two stumps. One of only 3 cricketers ever to hit the sight screen in one bounce in a test match, i.e pitching only on the wicket. Batsmen were seriously scared of him.

[@surfclimbcycle]

I once heard Thommo describing his bowling action in an interview - he said something like: "I used to just shuffle up to the crease, then go WHANG!!" lol

[@neilpieterse9614]

MrTimmu67 Its a pitty the tecnology of today was not available back then. I suspect The amount of wickets Lilee took was a direct result of is partnership vir Thommo. Almost like Morkel and Steyn for South Africa.

[@DearWatson114]

Salt of the earth is our Thommo. They don't make em like that anymore.

[@badri19700425]

Tommo ended like a legend he is. What a Yorker to end his speech. Man this man just went several notches up in my respect ... he is not just a all time great of the game but an all time great as a human being. Salute

[@peterjansen8262]

One of the most exciting bowlers ever and a genuine Aussie bloke. God bless you Thommo.

[@michaellovell1368]

He used to break this Pommie heart when he was skittling us. But always a great character and played with a big smile (behind the glare). Great to see him here in such fine form. Good on yer, Thommo !!

[@peterrobinsmith1413]

I used to go water skiing with Jeff Thomson and his brother Ray, he drove the boat like he bowled, flat out

[@wadaglue8464]

What a great speech. Cricket today needs more character's like him.

[@Jan_de_Wit]

Absolutely brilliant, honest, heartfelt speech.

[@IrishMusicCountry]

Brilliant Speech. And you could tell it came from the heart. Shame about the buzzer totally spoiling it.

[@sulimanmalik7094]

What a absolute Gentleman for me the quickest bowler in history LEGEND

[@kadambisridhar9365]

His was the perfect action, never tire of watching videos of his bowling in his prime (KZbin🙏). Pity he never toured India. Would’ve travelled miles to see him in action (like I did to see Michael Holding during the 83/4 WI tour of India!)

[@npg68]

Pretty sure Gordon Greenidge said he found Thommo the hardest bowler to bat against - not just for his sheer brute pace but because Thommo would wind up his action with the ball behind his back and it was hard to watch the ball leave his hand.

[@Brentford-rf5sh]

Great speech Thomo ! For a moment, I thought I was watching Sir Les Patterson !!!!!

[@exessex3522]

Slightly better dentition than Sir Les...

[@TheCinderellaman10]

What Thomson said at the end had me teary eyed, legend!

[@tomderbyshire5795]

Legend Acknowledged by opponents as fastest bowler they had faced . And took time to coach junior soccer at my old club in Brisbane. Great down to earth guy.

[@TheWowowo]

So great to see genuine. Genuine comments from a man amongst men. Too much polish on todays cricketer, todays man for that matter.

[@MrWah79]

As good as any delivery during his career. What a great Australian.

[@clarencemendonca579]

Maite, those famous last words, will remain etched forever in my memory. Truly, a fitting tribute to those very special few who are forgotten by the wayside. God Bless You and Your Dear Family, Thommo. May Good Health Peace and Happiness be yours always. Thank You for those wonderful memories.

[@graemewiltshire312]

What a character ! 😂, not enough people like him about today unfortunately.

[@nealenewton4971]

He scared the bejesus out of anyone having to face up to him. What an era,what a bowler

[@ubaidrazi97]

Loved his deceiving action❤.. I actually tried it with tennis ball, back in my young days of street cricket back home in Pakistan. And i bowled a lot guys then😊 with that deceiving action..Thomo, you were the fastest bowler of that era.. Love all the way from USA..

[@darrenmarcelholdcroft3350]

Brilliant speech. From the heart. Remember a poem.. Ashes to Ashes Dust to dust If Lillee doesn't get ya Thomson must

[@venkatraju3235]

The greatest fast bowler of all time Thomo Thomo when batsmen used to shiver. My Childhood hero.

[@debradireen3625]

Greatest bowler of all time. I had a crush on Thommo in the 70’s.The Lillie Thommo partnership of 70’s World series cricket was the stuff of legend. My dad was named in the Tasmanian hall of fame and played cricket for Tassie in the 60’s so I grew up with cricket in my blood. I was so proud when my dad met the West Indies and Australian team in Melbourne in the 1975-1976 test.

[@mrspeaker6720]

Very touching at the end.

[@keithburgess4088]

Wow, you tell it like it is and they bleep you..!! ... really, that was a great heartfelt speech, he's just gone up another notch in my book, CONGRATULATIONS THOMO..

[@faisalshabbir408]

World of cricket will never see such a legendary display of fast bowling perhaps you make fast bowling a terrifying, lethal and most beautiful part of the game

[@Ingens_Scherz]

Perfect Aussie. Love the bloke and always will. I am a Pom by the way (almost as old as he is!).

[@Ingens_Scherz]

Him and Sir Les Patterson, of course.

[@ronanrogers4127]

ludocrat ...he was a terrific bowler, wasn’t he? And sustained pace too throughout the spell, dropping only a little. Sadly bowlers today play too much, and while some of them might touch 150, or 155 if they’re the best, they quickly drop down to 142, or if they’re Broad 138...no genuine sustained pace at the moment

[@anthonyscruton5765]

I’m a Pom and I love watching him and lillee what a pair and terrific blokes as well

[@eli_0214]

I thought the buzzer was interrupting Jeff for the comedy 😂

[@rjjcms1]

Same.

[@nitesh2780]

Jeff Thompson, Michael Hussey, keith Stackpole, ..... the kind of aussies i like to listen to.

[@cksajeevkumar]

Thank you Sir, you are a 🌟

[@stevemelling9438]

A unique bowling style I could watch all day. Very good, very necessary last comment from him.

[@markmcdermott7496]

One of the most honest and down to earth blokes you will every meet. A true legend of the sport, a dynamic Aussie character and ambassador for all sports men & women across Australia and Internationally. A seriously funny bugger and I only wish there were more like him today. Cheers Thommo.

[@trackside77]

I'm a Pom, and he was one of my all time favourite Cricketers. A genuine top bloke.

[@chrisferguson237]

What an Aussie Legend. Makes me sad to see these guys passing away and getting old. Cheers

[@sidharthdas554]

Jeff Thomson is my favorite bowler..I like his approach

[@bobbrown6389]

Well, Said Thommo, It's the poor parents, that are the unsung heroes of the sport of Cricket.

[@badhabitz69]

*Dead set legend!!! Love you Thommo!!!!!*

[@davidsmart8594]

Thommo, you were my hero in the mid '70s..I was 10-11yrs old. My brother (4yrs older than me) actually got your technique off pretty well...but said it was 'exhausting'. I was more the 'Lillee / Walker' type of bowler (shut up...let me dream!)...I just couldn't use your style. You were entertaining, inspiring...and this speech proves that, deep down, your heart was in the right place. You're absolutely right...it's the blokes who took the kids to the games: The Dads, uncles, teachers, the half-drunk guy who actually gave excellent advice...("Get on the f****n bus...we're gunna be late!"), who 'rear' cricket players. Without you, though (and Lillee, and Walker)... Thank you. A BIG part of my childhood.

[@brendanking90]

the last 5 seconds are the ultimate part of this speech

[@SKyswinger-cs6wd]

Really a legend 🎉a genuine fast bowler❤with 💚love 💕 and best wishes from 🇵🇰

[@russe19642]

Choked uo at the end paying tribute to the volunteers of cricket and im guessing he was thinking of someone who helped him in the early years especially

[@BatMan-oe2gh]

A brilliant speech and not a truer word said about the people behind the scenes. I had the privilege of watching Thommo and DK in their prime, and it was wonderful cricket and not so much of a business as it is now.

[@brucelamberton8819]

Thommo always wore his heart on his sleeve and told it how it is

[@noelroberts8199]

We love you Thommo, you are a living legend, and an Aussie to boot............

[@johnstevenson2890]

Tommo,what a fantastic speech,what a legend,from Glasgow,SCOTLAND

[@gaius_enceladus]

Kiwi guy here - Thommo's a real legend (along with Lillee!). Great guy!

[@pbfamous07]

what a legend

[@aturner123]

All class. what a legend. Test cricket will never die

[@kevinhiggins910]

He's funny, natural comedian.

[@rockandhorror]

A true legend, grew up watching him, my idol

[@mohamedrahaman9238]

Saw him as a teenager in 1978...Bourda, Georgetown, Guyana. Aus vs Guyana. Then Aus vs West Indies. Simpson was captain because of Kerry Packer controversy. Spell in Barbados was awesome...named one of Wisden player of year in 1978. West Indies was at full strength in Barbados, but most were out for remainder of series for same reason. Can still remember when we were all calling for Thommo to bowl (he did not open the bowling vs Guyana).

[@teemac1298]

The greatest comedian of his time!

[@iandibley2985]

Great Thommo very entertaining, the guys of your era played for the genuine love of the game and the honour of wearing the baggy green the enormous corporate payments didn't exist p.s. never used sandpaper and didn’t bubble when caught out. A fantastic era of cricket. Dibbo.

[@faisalshabbir408]

Cricketer like thomsan make cricket a fascinating sport to watch.

[@PatheraTigris]

Nature boy of cricket😉

[@chrisgriffiths2533]

Thomo, Absolute Legend.

[@martinharvey3990]

I love Tommo. Wouldn't have wanted to face him though in his youth. When the greats of the game say he was a scary prospect then take note!

[@twelveytwelve]

Aaaand without helmets. 8-O

[@dubasoft250]

Fantastic Aussie humour love ya Thommo.

[@the14thearlofgurney84]

Awesome! Been looking at him as fastest ever. Great guy too!

[@chiefslim9353]

Unlikely to be the fastest but was probably the most consistent

[@user-rj9bz5lo7f]

Jeff Thompson was my hero when I was kid. A great Aussie. Scary as f%#! bowler. Man that team we had with Thomo, Lillee, Marsh, Walters, and the two Chappell’s was the golden period for Australian cricket.

[@trentbell5931]

I remember as a 10 year old in 1975 trying to be just like him

[@ayanchakraborty1667]

This is called a real LEGEND !

[@ozzyintexas]

What a champion.

[@sisi-xz7xy]

jeff thompson super entertaining hilarious thommo and dennis lilley remarkable spectacular bowlers in their hayday golden age of cricket 70s 80s

[@chrisroberts8864]

What a great bloke nearly she’d a tear at the end perhaps remembering the sacrifices his parents made.

[@ronanrogers4127]

What a terrific speech...colourful, funny, self-deprecating, and respectful of those who had helped make him one of cricket’s best ever bowlers. My childhood hero...nothing like a Thomson catapult thundering into the wicket and quickly rising up to the batsmen’s Adam’s apple. A true legend.

[@weburnitatbothends]

What a great bloke, onya Jeff, thanks mate

[@Chuckson56]

What a legend = top sportsman and person.

[@richardsculley67]

Great speech particularly at the end

[@lou8809]

What a legend

[@JV.-jv.]

Every one every player that saw him said how frightening he was so we can all be guaranteed just how fast he racketeered balls at batsman

[@MuhammadGabriel-jw6id]

Wonderful man

[@jasoncarmichael4540]

Amazing, loved it

[@blake.henderson]

what a lovely bloke

[@drsureintherensumelingam8920]

Wonderful speech

[@boxingjerapah]

whatever happened to cricket? love these guys from 70's/80's

[@Aman-nk5uq]

Dead is cricket

[@simonhawkins7384]

Great speech Tommi❤️

[@Indiancrab]

great sense of humour...

[@WildBoreWoodWind]

What do you mean: "One of the fastest bowlers the world has ever seen..."? He was/is the fastest bowler ever seen! Thommo, a world cricketing legend.

[@z5a9]

So true. He was recorded too as the fastest, when they had a fast bowlers ball off with all the fastest bowlers in the 70's, not only did Thommo ball the quickest, he smashed a specially made screen behind the stumps with his first deliver to see how fast the ball came through the wicket. He was frightening fast. His collision with Turner in the outfield post that, he was never the same, but he could still got wickets.

[@chiefslim9353]

​@@z5a9he was recorded as the fastest against the people of his time but not against the fast bowlers of recent times unfortunately

[@chiefslim9353]

They said one of the fastest because that's exactly what he was. He wasn't the fastest of all time and anyone saying otherwise is dreaming

[@peterhoughton3770]

"It's for those people"... Celebrities, politicians, artists, sportspeople all need to just hold onto that. "It's for those people"... and you'll do well in life, but more than that. You'll deserve it.

[@fknucklewit]

Had a beer with him once at The Runcorn. Nice bloke. Very humble.

[@mkely9032]

There is an uncensored version as well. What is the point of taking out the good parts?

[@BelloBudo007]

Loved it!!!

[@abczyx9129]

Great Fast Bowler 💛

[@stevehall5299]

Lovely straight up bloke, no bullshit with Thommo, love the fella x

[@SkandiaAUS]

All the new players be like "is it ok to laugh will I lose my Swisse sponsorship?".

[@MrJohnmci]

Dead right Thommo, in these days of denigrating so many men, we must not forget the multitude of great blokes who dedicate their lives to encouraging the young and the emerging. And not forgetting for one moment, the Mums who do the same. The early mornings, the wet days, the fundraising, the sausage sizzles, the inevitable disappointments - we salute you.

[@asparagii]

Thommo moved to my neighbourhood when I was in my late teens - he lived just around the corner. I remember sometimes I'd see him around, though we never spoke. One Saturday I was waiting out the front of my house in my cricket whites with my kit bag, waiting for a teammate to come pick me up (I didn't have a car then). Thommo drove past and smiled and waved at me. I always thought that was pretty cool of him: he was a famous guy and he acknowledged me. Congrats on your award Thommo. Cheers.

[@milancoric8787]

True Aussie cricket legend Jeff Thomson

[@60-second-HACKS]

When you watched his action from behind, his wrist looked like a second elbow attached to another length of arm. Amazing.

[@keepit_real_]

Well played Sir!

[@Steve-gm2jl]

So good.

[@das250250]

The real deal ... we don't breed them like this these days

[@johnrogers5825]

Thommo and Lillee, those were the days.

[@kevinmoor26]

I have watched cricket for sixty years. Never let anyone tell you anyone was faster than Thommo. Lillee was probably close before his injury. In tandem, they wrecked batting orders.