{{short description|Australian cricketer (born 2004)}} {{Infobox cricketer | name = Thomas Balkin | full_name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|2004|01|08}} | birth_place = | nickname = | batting = Right-handed | bowling = Right-arm medium-fast | role = Bowler
| club1 = Queensland | year1 = 2025– | clubnumber1 = 8 | club2 = Brisbane Heat | year2 = {{nowrap|2025/26–}} | clubnumber2 = 95
| columns = 3
| column1 = FC | matches1 = 1 | runs1 = – | bat avg1 = – | 100s/50s1 = 0/0 | top score1 = – | deliveries1 = 48 | wickets1 = 1 | bowl avg1 = 41.00 | fivefor1 = 0 | tenfor1 = 0 | best bowling1 = 1/41 | catches/stumpings1 = 0/–
| column2 = LA | matches2 = 2 | runs2 = 9 | bat avg2 = – | 100s/50s2 = 0/0 | top score2 = 9* | deliveries2 = 78 | wickets2 = 2 | bowl avg2 = 28.00 | fivefor2 = 0 | tenfor2 = 0 | best bowling2 = 1/22 | catches/stumpings2 = 0/– | column3 = T20 | matches3 = 5 | runs3 = 10 | bat avg3 = 10.00 | 100s/50s3 = 0/0 | top score3 = 9* | deliveries3 = 83 | wickets3 = 6 | bowl avg3 = 19.83 | fivefor3 = 0 | tenfor3 = 0 | best bowling3 = 2/30 | catches/stumpings3 = 4/–
| source = https://www.espncricinfo.com/cricketers/thomas-balkin-1356604 CricInfo | date = 17 March | year = 2026 }}
'''Thomas Balkin''' (born 8 January 2004) is an Australian cricketer who has represented Queensland and the Brisbane Heat in domestic cricket.
==Early life== Balkin attended school at St Joseph's College, Nudgee.<ref>{{cite web |title=Schoolboy stars in KFC Premier Cricket Team of the Week |url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=CMWEB_WRE170_a&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.couriermail.com.au%2Fquestnews%2Fsport%2Fschoolboy-stars-in-kfc-premier-cricket-team-of-the-week%2Fnews-story%2F19132a91528ee36adabd4740b79961ea&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&v21=LOW-Segment-2-SCORE |website=The Courier-Mail |access-date=3 February 2026}}</ref> Growing up, he played cricket for the Toombul Cricket Club.<ref name="Cricketcomau">{{cite web |last1=Mason |first1=Luke |title=Tom who? The youngster who lit up the Gabba |url=https://www.cricket.com.au/news/4425274/tom-who-the-youngster-who-lit-up-the-gabba-tom-balkin-bbl-15-bbl15-kfc-brisbane-heat-adelaide-strikers-xavier-bartlett-toombul-district-cricket-club |website=cricket.com.au |access-date=3 February 2026}}</ref>
Balkin was mentored by Australian international cricketer Ryan Harris from the age of 15, when Harris coached a Cricket Australia XI, in which Balkin featured, during the under-17 National Championships.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Alexander |first1=Riley |title=Young gun Balkin ready to battle England in own backyard |url=https://www.cricket.com.au/news/3555490/young-gun-tom-balkin-ready-to-battle-england-in-own-backyard-australia-under-19-england-series-queensland-fast-bowler |website=cricket.com.au |access-date=3 February 2026}}</ref>
Balkin was part of the Queensland Cricket Academy.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Vellacott |first1=Cam |title=T20 Max Preview - Toombul |url=https://www.qldcricket.com.au/news/4078101/t20-max-preview-toombul |website=qldcricket.com.au |access-date=3 February 2026}}</ref> In April 2025, Balkin was awarded the Bob Spence Trophy as the most improved Under-21 Male Player in the Queensland Premier Cricket competition.<ref>{{cite web |title=Premier Medal Winners Celebrated |url=https://www.qldcricket.com.au/news/4248538/premier-medal-winners-celebrated |website=qldcricket.com.au |access-date=3 February 2026}}</ref>
==Domestic career== Balkin represented Queensland at under-17 and under-19 level.<ref name="Cricketcomau">{{cite web |last1=Mason |first1=Luke |title=Tom who? The youngster who lit up the Gabba |url=https://www.cricket.com.au/news/4425274/tom-who-the-youngster-who-lit-up-the-gabba-tom-balkin-bbl-15-bbl15-kfc-brisbane-heat-adelaide-strikers-xavier-bartlett-toombul-district-cricket-club |website=cricket.com.au |access-date=3 February 2026}}</ref>
Balkin gained a rookie contract with Queensland in 2025.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bulls Squad Set For Summer |url=https://www.qldcricket.com.au/news/4267849/bulls-squad-set-for-summer |website=qldcricket.com.au |access-date=28 December 2025}}</ref> In December 2025, he was added to the squad of the Brisbane Heat as a Local Replacement Player.<ref>{{cite web |title=KUHNEMANN BACK FOR HEAT - Joins Squad For Scorchers |url=https://www.brisbaneheat.com.au/news/4421774/kuhnemann-back-for-heat-joins-squad-for-scorchers |website=brisbaneheat.com.au |access-date=28 December 2025}}</ref>
In his debut match against the Adelaide Strikers, after international recruit Shaheen Shah Afridi was injured, Balkin was required to bowl the final over of the match with the Strikers requiring 10 runs to win.<ref>{{cite web |title=WATCH - Heat debutant steps up and does the business |url=https://sportnation.nz/article/bbl-news-heat-debutant-thomas-balkin-heat-beat-strikers |website=sportnation.nz |access-date=28 December 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=O'Loughlin |first1=Liam |title='Absolute thriller': Brisbane Heat debutant seals BBL victory with double-wicket over |url=https://www.nine.com.au/sport/cricket/big-bash-news-2025-brisbane-heat-tom-balkin-debutant-wickets-adelaide-strikers-result-video-20251228-p5nqbb.html |website=nine.com.au |access-date=28 December 2025}}</ref> He took two wickets and won the match for the Heat.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wenzel |first1=Murray |title=Brisbane Heat debutant Tom Balkin delivers in final over of BBL thriller against Adelaide |url=https://7news.com.au/sport/cricket/brisbane-heat-debutant-tom-balkin-delivers-in-final-over-of-bbl-thriller-against-adelaide-c-21136973 |website=7news.com.au |access-date=28 December 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Brisbane Heat beats Adelaide Strikers by seven runs, thanks to debutant Tom Balkin |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-28/heat-call-on-lightning-fast-debutant-in-rollicking-bbl-win/106182342 |website=abc.net.au |access-date=28 December 2025}}</ref>
Balkin made his List A debut for Queensland against Victoria during the 2025–26 One-Day Cup. He took the wicket of Tom Rogers in his first game.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cameron |first1=Louis |title=Rogers catch stuns as Vics put dent in Bulls ODC tilt |url=https://www.cricket.com.au/news/4443361/victoria-queensland-match-report-one-day-cup-mcg-video-highlights-murphy-rogers-labuschagne-neser |website=cricket.com.au |access-date=3 February 2026}}</ref>
In March of 2026, Balkin made his Sheffield Shield debut against Tasmania<ref>{{cite web |title=Tasmania vs Queensland 30th Match Sheffield Shield 2025-26 |url=https://www.espn.com/cricket/series/8043/scorecard/1495308/tasmania-vs-queensland-30th-match-sheffield-shield-2025-26 |website=espn.com |access-date=17 March 2026}}</ref>.
==International Career== Balkin was part of the extended squad for Australia at the 2022 Under-19 World Cup, however did not play a game. He represented Australia's under-19 side in their tour of England in 2023.<ref name="Cricketcomau">{{cite web |last1=Mason |first1=Luke |title=Tom who? The youngster who lit up the Gabba |url=https://www.cricket.com.au/news/4425274/tom-who-the-youngster-who-lit-up-the-gabba-tom-balkin-bbl-15-bbl15-kfc-brisbane-heat-adelaide-strikers-xavier-bartlett-toombul-district-cricket-club |website=cricket.com.au |access-date=3 February 2026}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{cricinfo}}
{{Queensland cricket team squad}} {{Brisbane Heat current squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Balkin, Thomas}} Category:2004 births Category:Living people Category:Australian cricketers Category:Queensland cricketers Category:Brisbane Heat cricketers Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen Category:People educated at St Joseph's College, Nudgee