Alfonso Thomas - Why hasn't he been given a chance for South Africa?

[ljinko888]

I watch a lot of county cricket and whenever I see Alfonso Thomas bowl I am always impressed. Very rarely does he get it wrong (yesterday in the final he did) and he is often the match winner for Somerset with his accurate bowling. I know South Africa have had a lot of fast bowling options to choose from but it bemuses me when I see he has played one T20 against Pakistan. He finished with figures of 3-25 but has never played for them again. He's a clever, experienced bowler with a lot of variation, a terrific yorker and regularly on target. So why has he only recieved that one game? Is it too late to get another opportunity?

 

[Andre]

I watch a lot of county cricket and whenever I see Alfonso Thomas bowl I am always impressed. Very rarely does he get it wrong (yesterday in the final he did) and he is often the match winner for Somerset with his accurate bowling. I know South Africa have had a lot of fast bowling options to choose from but it bemuses me when I see he has played one T20 against Pakistan. He finished with figures of 3-25 but has never played for them again. He's a clever, experienced bowler with a lot of variation, a terrific yorker and regularly on target. So why has he only recieved that one game? Is it too late to get another opportunity?

He's a Kolpak so he can't I dont think.

 

[TT Boy]

I watch a lot of county cricket and whenever I see Alfonso Thomas bowl I am always impressed. Very rarely does he get it wrong (yesterday in the final he did) and he is often the match winner for Somerset with his accurate bowling. I know South Africa have had a lot of fast bowling options to choose from but it bemuses me when I see he has played one T20 against Pakistan. He finished with figures of 3-25 but has never played for them again. He's a clever, experienced bowler with a lot of variation, a terrific yorker and regularly on target. So why has he only recieved that one game? Is it too late to get another opportunity?

Career coincided in a period where South Africa had a plethora of better all-rounders. If guys like van der Wath could hardly got a game, a bowler slower than Pollock at Pollock’s worst and without Pollock’s ability to win games with the bat was hardly going to play much. Best chance in the longer formats was circa 2006 but Morne Morkel came on the scene and leapfrogged Alfonso for the Indian series.

Thomas was included in a few expanded squads for ICC tournaments since, even when Kolpak but now there is zero chance of Thomas playing again for South Africa.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Clearly not in Pollock's league with the bat, but Thomas is no mug either. Seen him score a few down the order for Somerset on occasion.