Jeff Thomas
@jeff-thomas.bsky.social
Freelance sports journalist, Wisden Cricket Monthly, The Nightwatchman, wisden.com and The Cricket Paper www.substack.com/@jeffthomaswords https://ko-fi.com/jeffthomaswords
With Glamorgan riding high, their Director of Cricket reflects on a remarkable promotion campaign, the impact of Richard Dawson, and a renewed commitment to developing Welsh talent – with a little help from The Hundred. open.substack.com/pub/jeffthom...
Mark Wallace: Inside Glamorgan’s revival
“It’s easy to think that once you go up, you just automatically bring in lots of new faces. But you have to show trust to the players who had such a good season to get you there."
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I had a really interesting chat with Mickey Arthur last month on how Derbyshire are shaping up for the 2026 season... open.substack.com/pub/jeffthom...
Mickey Arthur: 'I've no doubt red-ball promotion will come within two years'
As he prepares to embark on his fifth season at the helm of county cricket’s least decorated club, the seasoned South African coach tells me that Derbyshire are finally ready to take the plunge
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"Sometimes, it’s not just about seeing what happens. It’s about living it, feeling it, and knowing you were there." open.substack.com/pub/jeffthom...
I wanna be in the room where it happens…
Chasing meaning, memory, and the thrill of being there
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Forget the Ashes, here's the real quiz... Glamorgan’s return to Division One proves that leadership, culture, and perseverance can overcome the unique challenges of Welsh cricket. First published in Wisden Cricket Monthly. open.substack.com/pub/jeffthom...
The Sleeping Dragon Awakes
Two decades after crashing out of Division One, Glamorgan have finally returned to county cricket’s top table. I investigate the club’s revival and the distinct culture that has underpinned it
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In Australia, England were uncharacteristically conservative – in selection, tactics, and temperament. This victory (and potentially another next week) will soften the memory of the tour, but also sharpens the sting of what came before. open.substack.com/pub/jeffthom...
England’s “What If” Win
England may have won the Melbourne lottery – but turned up too late to claim the jackpot
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"Australia didn’t so much defeat Bazball as simply expose its fragility. They applied pressure until the believers stopped believing. And when the architects of a revolution lose confidence in their own blueprint, collapse is not merely possible – it is inevitable." open.substack.com/pub/jeffthom...
When Bazball Blinked
The collapse of England’s fearless experiment
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Piece for Wisden on the numbers behind Leicestershire CCC's resurgence... www.wisden.com/series/count...
How The Foxes Found Their Teeth: The Pack Mentality Driving Leicestershire's Success | County Championship 2025
Leicestershire are top of Division Two, favourites for promotion with four wins from six games. Find out what's driving their success here
wisden.com
13k on the Essex stream at the death. Happens with every close game and no-one is directing them there. All entirely organic
At 16, Joan of Arc led France to military victories, Alexander the Great controlled an empire and Blaise Pascal had invented the first calculator, but at 14, had any of them made a 35-ball hundred? jeffthomaswords.substack.com/p/no-nerves-...
Lovely to see the return of the crossword amongst all the other good stuff in this week's The Cricket Paper...
🏏 New County #Cricket newsletter. Please share and enjoy 🟣 All the Round Two previews 🟢 A fine Round One reviewed 🟠 Gloucs unveil special mural 🔴 Essex celebrate century at Chelmsford 🔵 Middlesex legal trouble 🟡 Championship reform ahead? countycricket.substa...
No 149, Apr 10: The Grumbler's County Cricket Newsletter
🟣 All the Round Two previews 🟢 A fine Round One reviewed 🟠 Gloucs unveil special mural 🔴 Essex celebrate century at Chelmsford 🔵 Middlesex legal trouble 🟡 Championship reform ahead?
countycricket.substack.com
With the world seemingly stuck on fast-forward, the return of county cricket this week gave me some much needed respite from the madness...
Lord's: the antidote to a dystopian future?
With the world seemingly stuck on fast-forward, the return of county cricket this week gave me some much needed respite from the madness.
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There really is no better place than HQ to watch cricket. New substack will drop tomorrow... www.substack.com/@jeffthomasw...
In the week Harry Brook shunned the IPL in order to prioritise England’s upcoming Test schedule, I revisit his ‘favourite hundred’, the counter-attacking masterclass from Wellington in December...
Harry Brook’s ludicrous 123 in Wellington: The best Test innings of 2024
In the week Harry Brook shunned the IPL in order to prioritise England’s upcoming Test schedule, I revisit his ‘favourite hundred’, the counter-attacking masterclass from Wellington last December.
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Feeling burnt-out after enduring a difficult year both in and outside of work, I took the option of redundancy and ended up covering England's winter Test series in New Zealand for wisden online. Here's the story of how it happened, why I needed it so badly, and how I got along...
Healing Between the Lines: A Personal Journey in New Zealand
Last winter I covered England's Test series for wisden.com. Here's the story of how it happened, why I needed it so badly, and how I got along...
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A farewell tribute to Jos Buttler... #cricket #championstrophy #sadeyes
Jos Buttler: Sad Eyes
YouTube video by Press Box Therapy
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This week's article on the inherent humanity of Jos Buttler, and why he was always destined to fail as captain...
Jos Buttler: The Captain Too Nice to Succeed?
"Sad eyes, you knew there'd come a day when we would have to say goodbye..."
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Issue 49 of The Nightwatchman is out now and is full of fantastic long-form cricket writing from Scott Oliver, CS Chiwanza, Annie Chave, David Tossell, Qaiser Mohammad Ali and more. Print: www.thenightwatchman.net/.../the-nigh... Digital: www.thenightwatchman.net/.../the-nigh...
🚨Launch post klaxon🚨”Last week, during the opening match of the ICC Champions Trophy, New Zealand’s Glenn Phillips took a catch so logic-defying that – for the first time in four weeks – I sat bolt-upright, well nearly.” open.substack.com/pub/jeffthom...
The superpowers of Glenn Phillips: backward point’s new king
Last week, during the opening match of the ICC Champions Trophy, New Zealand’s Glenn Phillips took a catch so logic-defying that – for the first time in four weeks – I sat bolt-upright, well nearly.
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Having graduated from the University of Birmingham with a BSc in Sport & Exercise Science in 2001 and a Diploma in Freelance Sports Journalism from LSJ in 2013, I’ve finally decided – after 20 odd years – it’s time to follow my passion...
Introducing... Press Box Therapy
Launching tomorrow: 26/02/2025
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