James Tomlinson

James Andrew Tomlinson (born 12 June 1982) is an English former cricketer. A left-arm medium pace bowler, capable of producing swing at a brisk pace, Tomlinson was educated at Harrow Way School and was captain of the school cricket team which reached the semi-finals of the Hampshire Schools Cup in 1995 (a notable achievement for a school from the state sector), from where he attended Cricklade College, Andover. He later studied for his degree at Cardiff University.

Tomlinson played his first senior match in List A match in the 2000 NatWest Trophy for the Hampshire Cricket Board (HCB) against Huntingdonshire at Grasmere Road, Cove, with Tomlinson going wicketless in the match, though his ten over spell conceded only 17 runs. In that same season, he also made two MCCA Knockout Trophy appearances for the HCB, against Dorset and Berkshire. The following season, Tomlinson appeared in a single List A match for Wiltshire in the 2001 Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy against the Derbyshire Cricket Board at Hardenhuish Park, Chippenham.

In the 2002 season, Tomlinson, who was studying at Cardiff University, was called up to the British Universities cricket team, making his first-class debut for the team against the touring Sri Lankans. He took the wicket of Kumar Sangakkara in this match to claim his maiden first-class wicket, with the match itself ending in a draw. He made his first appearance for Hampshire in that season, against Sussex in a List A match in the 2002 Norwich Union League. He made eighty further appearances in that competition, His first-class debut for the county came in that season as well, against the touring Indians at the Rose Bowl, He also made four appearances in that seasons County Championship. He did however claim his maiden five wicket haul, taking 6/63 against Derbyshire. Injury limited Tomlinson to just a single appearance each in first-class and List A cricket in the 2004 season, Following his return from injury, he played just a handful of games in the 2006 season, returning to the Hampshire side following his back injury in a low-key early season first-class match against Loughborough UCCE. The end of the 2006 season saw Tomlinson return to action in the County Championship against Lancashire in Hampshire's final Championship match of that season. He ended the season with 67 wickets at an average of 24.76, to end the season as the leading wicket-taker in the County Championship, and becoming the first Hampshire cricketer to do so since Malcolm Marshall in 1982. His 8/46 against Somerset were also the best figures by a Hampshire since Peter Hartley's 8/65 in 1999. He won his Hampshire cap during this season, and was named the county's Player of the Year. He also made his highest first-class score with the bat in this season, scoring 42 against Somerset at the Rose Bowl. His performances helped Hampshire maintain their status in Division One of the County Championship. He also made five List A appearances during this season in the Clydesdale Bank 40, making what is to date his last appearance in that format against Scotland. He made twelve first-class appearances in the 2012 County Championship, In December 2012, he added a further year to his contract, keeping at Hampshire until the 2014 season.

He passed 250 first-class wickets in Hampshire's first match in the 2013 County Championship against Leicestershire, with Ned Eckersley his 250th wicket.

Awards and achievements 2003 NBC Denis Compton Award 2008 Leading wicket taker in the 2008 County Championship