Jeff Thomson's explosive debut Ashes series in 1974-75 — where he regularly bowled above 95mph with a sling-arm action — produced constant confrontations with English batsmen including Tony Greig, who had rashly stated England would make Australia 'grovel'.
Tony Greig's 'grovel' comment before the 1974-75 Ashes was arguably the most counterproductive pre-series statement in cricket history. Made on a television programme, it framed England's challenge in aggressively personal terms that inflamed Australian sentiment.
Jeff Thomson was 24 years old and virtually unknown outside domestic Australian cricket. He bowled off a unique chest-on sling action — generating pace from an unusual angle that made the ball difficult to sight. Combined with Dennis Lillee, Australia had the most feared pace attack since Larwood and Voce.
England arrived reasonably confident — they had beaten Australia in the previous Ashes. Their batting was experienced: Edrich, Amiss, Greig, Knott. But none had faced Thomson at full pace.
The Brisbane pitch was hard and fast. Thomson's first spell established the series' tone — deliveries rising to throat height from back of a length, forcing England's batsmen into desperate evasion.
Before the 1974-75 Ashes, England captain Tony Greig boasted that England would make Australia 'grovel' — a remark that incensed Australian players and public. Thomson, making his Ashes debut, took 33 wickets in the series at 17.93 — regularly bowling at 95-100mph with his distinctive sling-arm action. He dismissed Greig repeatedly and subjected him to constant body blows. Greig tried to counter-attack against the short ball and paid with bruises. The series became 4-1 to Australia. Thomson later admitted the 'grovel' comment motivated him specifically against Greig.
Brisbane: Thomson's first over in Ashes cricket — four consecutive deliveries that leave batsmen hopping
Thomson strikes David Lloyd on the groin — Lloyd barely continues; the tour injury list begins
Greig dismissed multiple times by Thomson's lifting deliveries outside off stump
Perth: Thomson at his fastest — radio broadcasts estimate 98-100mph; England batsmen visibly frightened
Australia win 4-1; Thomson 33 wickets — England's batsmen physically battered
1974-11-29
First Test, Brisbane: Thomson's Ashes debut; England batsmen rattled
1974-12-13
Perth: Thomson at peak pace; England lose heavily
1975-02-01
Series ends: Australia 4-1; Thomson 33 wickets at 17.93
“I said we'd make them grovel and Thomson and Lillee made me eat every word of it. I was hit more times in that series than in my entire previous career.”
“When Greig said they'd make us grovel, every Australian player read it. That gave us extra motivation. I wanted to hit him hard — legally, within the game.”
“Thommo and I fed off each other. When he was bowling fast, I wanted to bowl faster. That 1974-75 summer was special.”
England's tour was a physical ordeal — multiple batsmen were hit, some hospitalized. Dennis Amiss was so badly affected he required substantial time to recover his batting. The tour produced some of cricket's most honest assessments of physical danger.
Thomson continued as Australia's spearhead until injury reduced his pace in the late 1970s. Greig later became a respected commentator, always frank about his misjudgment in the pre-series comment. Their post-retirement relationship was cordial.
Thomson won decisively — not just against Greig but against England's entire batting lineup. Australia's 4-1 series win was built on the Thomson-Lillee pace combination that was simply faster and more dangerous than anything England's batsmen had encountered in the previous decade.
The 1974-75 Ashes established the template for pace attacks in subsequent decades — identifying that a pair of bowlers of 90mph+ in tandem could be virtually unbeatable on bouncy pitches. It led directly to West Indies' subsequent use of four-pace attacks.
Thomson's action was studied by pace bowling coaches for years. His ability to generate extreme pace off a short run with minimal visible effort made him uniquely difficult to face — the ball arrived on the batsman faster than visual calculation allowed.
Australia vs Pakistan
22 November 1981
Dennis Lillee kicked Javed Miandad on the field, prompting Miandad to raise his bat as if to strike Lillee. Umpire Tony Crafter intervened to separate them.
New Zealand vs West Indies
12 February 1980
Michael Holding kicked the stumps out of the ground in frustration after an LBW appeal was turned down against John Parker.
West Indies vs Australia
28 April 1995
Curtly Ambrose got in Steve Waugh's face after being told to go back to his mark. Richie Richardson had to pull Ambrose away. Ambrose then bowled a devastating spell.