Tommy Ward

Thomas Alfred Ward (2 August 1887 – 16 February 1936) was a South African cricketer who played in 23 Test matches between 1912 and 1924.

A wicket-keeper and useful batsman, Ward played first-class cricket for Transvaal from 1909–10 to 1925–26. He toured England with the South African teams of 1912 and 1924.

Ward made his Test debut on 27 May 1912, the opening Test of the 1912 Triangular Tournament, between South Africa and Australia at Old Trafford. Ward, batting at number eleven, found himself facing the hat-trick ball of the Australian leg-spin bowler Jimmy Matthews. Matthews had just got the wickets of Rolland Beaumont (31) and Sid Pegler (LBW for 0). Facing his first ball in Test cricket, Ward was hit on the pads and was given out LBW, earning himself a golden duck on debut and giving Matthews his hat-trick.

Ward's highest score in Test cricket was 64, when he opened the batting against England in the Fourth Test in 1922–23. He also opened the batting when he made his highest first-class score of 75 for Transvaal against Natal in the 1923–24 Currie Cup.

Ward died in 1936 as a result of accidental electrocution while working at a gold mine in Transvaal.