{{short description|Welsh cricketer}} {{distinguish|Darron Thomas}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox cricketer | name = Darren Thomas | fullname = Stuart Darren Thomas | nickname = Ted | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1972|1|25|df=yes}} | birth_place = Swansea, Glamorgan, Wales | heightft = 6 | heightinch = 0 | batting = Left-handed | bowling = Right-arm fast-medium | club2 = Wales Minor Counties | year2 = 2011 | club1 = Glamorgan | year1 = 1992–2006 | columns = 3 | column1 = FC | matches1 = 169 | runs1 = 3,977 | bat avg1 = 20.93 | 100s/50s1 = 2/18 | top score1 = 138 | deliveries1 = 26,518 | wickets1 = 504 | bowl avg1 = 31.79 | fivefor1 = 18 | tenfor1 = 1 | best bowling1 = 8/50 | catches/stumpings1 = 56/– | column2 = LA | matches2 = 140 | runs2 = 1,273 | bat avg2 = 16.53 | 100s/50s2 = 0/1 | top score2 = 71* | deliveries2 = 5,384 | wickets2 = 171 | bowl avg2 = 27.29 | fivefor2 = 3 | tenfor2 = 0 | best bowling2 = 7/16 | catches/stumpings2 = 25/– | column3 = T20 | matches3 = 14 | runs3 = 169 | bat avg3 = 16.90 | 100s/50s3 = 0/0 | top score3 = 43* | deliveries3 = 234 | wickets3 = 11 | bowl avg3 = 35.81 | fivefor3 = 0 | tenfor3 = 0 | best bowling3 = 3/32 | catches/stumpings3 = 2/– | date = 13 June | year = 2012 | source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/21521.html Cricinfo }} '''Stuart Darren Thomas''' (born 25 January 1975) is a Welsh former cricketer. He is a left-handed batsman and a right-arm medium-pace bowler.
Having first achieved notability taking a five-wicket haul against Derbyshire at the age of 17, Thomas took his chance at a place in the England youth team, and continued to bowl well through to 1995, at which point he suffered a dip in form which lasted until he regained his form in 1998, finishing top of the wicket-taking stakes with 81 wickets at an average of 24. He bowled an innings of 7 for 16, a record for Glamorgan, and was offered a chance to play for England A against South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Thomas was part of the Glamorgan side which won the county's first County Championship in 28 years in 1997, taking 44 wickets at 26.36,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://static.espncricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1997/ENG_LOCAL/STATS/CC-STATS/CC_AVS_GLAM.html|title=1997 County Championship Averages Glamorgan|publisher=Cricinfo|access-date=5 October 2021}}</ref> including 5 for 38 in the fixture against Somerset which clinched the title.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://static.espncricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1997/ENG_LOCAL/CC/R20/SOMERSET_GLAM_CC_18-20SEP1997.html|title=Somerset v Glamorgan at Taunton|publisher=Cricinfo|access-date=5 October 2021}}</ref>
He became the leading wicket taker in 2000 and recorded his first ten-wicket haul in a match against Durham in 2002.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://static.espncricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2002/ENG_LOCAL/CC2/SCORECARDS/15-18MAY2002/GLAM_DURHAM_CC2_15-18MAY2002.html|title=Glamorgan v Durham at Cardiff|publisher=Cricinfo|access-date=5 October 2021}}</ref>
In 2007, after fifteen years with Glamorgan, he joined Essex County Cricket Club. However, a shoulder injury sustained in February of that year prevented his playing even once for the first team, and in September he announced his retirement.<ref> {{cite web | url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/counties/essex/6991230.stm | title=Essex seamer Thomas has to retire | date=2007-09-12 | access-date=2007-09-12 | publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref>
In April 2024, Thomas was appointed as head coach of the Jersey women's cricket team.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/68764427|title=Darren Thomas: Jersey appoint former Glamorgan all-rounder as women's head coach|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=2024-06-02}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thomas, Darren}} Category:1975 births Category:Living people Category:Welsh cricketers Category:Glamorgan cricketers Category:Cricketers from Swansea Category:NBC Denis Compton Award recipients Category:Wales National County cricketers Category:Wales National County cricket captains