What is going on (Ashes version)?

Young Perth cricketer Chris Thomson bashed outside nightclub
Article from: PerthNow

* Font size: Decrease Increase
* Email article: Email
* Print article: Print
* Submit comment: Submit comment

David Murray in London and Michael Washbourne

June 18, 2009 10:00am

1.30PM UPDATE: A YOUNG Perth club cricketer has been left unable to speak after his skull was fractured in a "despicable" bashing outside a UK nightclub.

Chris Thomson, 26, who plays in the local WACA competition with Mt Lawley, was punched in the face and then hit his head on the ground in the unprovoked attack at Leeds in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The young fast bowler had been playing for Clayton West Cricket Club in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, after being recruited from WA last month.

He was on a night out with other players after a game and had just left Mint nightclub when he and a teammate were knocked out.

An ambulance took him to Leeds General Infirmary and he was moved into the High Dependency Unit.

Thomson, a right-arm fast bowler who claimed the Mt Lawley club’s 2nd grade bowling award last season, finished the year playing in the 1st grade side, before setting off for a summer in the UK, playing minor county cricket.

He took out the Captain's Award after taking 43 wickets at an average of 16, including season-best figures of 8-31.

In Perth today Mt Lawley teammate, Corry Verco, who previous played with the British club, said: “It wasn’t good. It was touch and go there for a while.''

“Thankfully, he’s improved since then.''

The WACA said today the injured cricketer is not the same Chris Thompson who is a member of the Warriors squad.

“He’s a very popular bloke about the place,” Verco said.

“He loves his cricket, is really dedicated to his sport. He’s not the type you’d expect to be involved in something like that.”

This was the first time Thomson has played in England, arriving two weeks into the season after delays with his passport.

“He’s really enjoyed it over there,” Verco said. “He’s improved on his batting.”

Verco said he and some Perth teammates had posted Facebook messages and sent emails of support to Thomson and his family.

He said Thomson was still having difficulty with his speech.

“The club’s been going up to him and asking what they can do, but all he can do is nod.

“He hasn’t been there that long, so they don’t know him all that well.

“Hopefully his mum can comfort him a bit more when she gets over there.”

Thomson's distraught mother Jeanette was due to arrive in the UK today after flying from Perth on Wednesday night.

But the positive news is that her son had been moved to a general ward after showing signs of recovering.

Mt Lawley CC president Peter Murphy said he had a “sour taste in his mouth” when he heard of Thomson’s bashing.

“As president of the club, we certainly share the pain that he would be going through, but also as a parent,” he said.

“There’s nothing more gut-wrenching than hearing something like that about one of your own.

Mr Murphy said Thomson had been visited by Mt Lawley club’s vice-president Brendan Reid, who is in England on business, and teammate James Deering, who is also playing County cricket.

He said there were initially fears Thomson would be left paralysed by the attack, but that was not the case.

“Obviously, it's still very early days and we can only hope for the best that he makes a full, speedy recovery,” he said.

Clayton West CC chairman Simon Thornhill said his team had been left ``gutted'' by the attack

"He's got a fracture to the back of his skull which goes to the top of the spine,'' Mr Thornhill told the Daily Telegraph.

"He's got no speech whatsoever at the moment, the only way he has of communicating is thankfully he can move his arms and his legs.''

He added: "It's despicable. It was a mindless attack for no reason at all.

"From what we can understand there wasn't an argument inside the club or anything, it was just a complete random attack.''

Thomson had played eight games since arriving in the UK last month and was already a highly regarded and well-liked team member.

He was due to return to Australia at the end of the English summer, but doctors are unsure when he will be fit enough to travel.

West Yorkshire police have released security camera footage of a man wanted in connection to the attack, which took place shortly after 3.45am Sunday.

The man entered Mint nightclub about an hour before the assault and had a shaved head, medium build and was wearing a blue shirt.

What is Gordon Brown going about this?

Well, since it's Leeds we will have to ascertain the race of the attackers first.

taipan wrote:Well, since it's Leeds we will have to ascertain the race of the attackers first.

People in Leeds tend to be rather violent regardless of what race they or you are.

I do really like Leeds but it does have it's fair share of tossers as evidenced by this report. Hope he is alright.

embee wrote:What is Gordon Brown doing about this?

He has instructed The Right Hon. the Baron Mandelson of Foy in the county of Herefordshire and Hartlepool in the county of Durham, First Secretary of State, Lord President of the Privy Council and Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills to look into the matter.

Gordon Brown is a tosser for not making it clear that all Aussie in England should gang together and take the law into their own hands...

JKLever wrote:Gordon Brown is a tosser for not making it clear that all Aussie in England should gang together and take the law into their own hands...

Maggie Thatcher would have organised vigilante groups by now.

Hmm, no nibbles from our sooky subi buddies?

Hasn't Flintoff expressed concerns about increasing violence in northern English cities?

Red wrote:Hasn't Flintoff expressed concerns about increasing violence in northern English cities?

...and Jesus hasn't said a thing about it

Northern English cities?

Society in general I think his quote was. Surprised if it was any different anywhere in the western world tbh.

embee wrote:

Red wrote:Hasn't Flintoff expressed concerns about increasing violence in northern English cities?

...and Jesus hasn't said a thing about it

I'll give Nelson a buzz.

Was he chirping loudly in his native language and holding an ipod ? Was he a 'soft target' ???

that's a serious crime in some parts of the world you know ...

buckSH wrote:Was he chirping loudly in his native language and holding an ipod ? Was he a 'soft target' ???

Whereas you are just soft.

I remember when I was 11 and was on holiday in Spain with my Dad. England had just knocked Spain out of Euro 96 which he saw with a pub filled with locals.

Immediately after the match he started singing at full volume:

"inglaterra, inglaterra, INGLATEEERRA"

to the tune of "Oh my Darling Clementine".

Still to this day can't figure out why he wasn't beaten shitless.

Any Aussies beaten up last night?

taipan wrote:Any Aussies beaten up last night?

Three in Earls Court - but they were pissed and took on a Routemaster doing 50 mph across a zebra crossing, so it doesn't really count.

Merlin wrote:

taipan wrote:Any Aussies beaten up last night?

Three in Earls Court - but they were pissed and took on a Routemaster doing 50 mph across a zebra crossing, so it doesn't really count.

Yeah likely story . . . never seen any Aussies or Kiwis pissed in Earl's Court . . . ever

they may get beaten in a whorehouse indulging in S&M or S&T ..

tac wrote:

Merlin wrote:

taipan wrote:Any Aussies beaten up last night?

Three in Earls Court - but they were pissed and took on a Routemaster doing 50 mph across a zebra crossing, so it doesn't really count.

Yeah likely story . . . never seen any Aussies or Kiwis pissed in Earl's Court . . . ever

You've never been sober enough to know the difference mate!

Merlin wrote:

tac wrote:

Merlin wrote:

taipan wrote:Any Aussies beaten up last night?

Three in Earls Court - but they were pissed and took on a Routemaster doing 50 mph across a zebra crossing, so it doesn't really count.

Yeah likely story . . . never seen any Aussies or Kiwis pissed in Earl's Court . . . ever

You've never been sober enough to know the difference mate!

That could be a reason . . .

Merlin wrote:

taipan wrote:Any Aussies beaten up last night?

Three in Earls Court - but they were pissed and took on a Routemaster doing 50 mph across a zebra crossing, so it doesn't really count.

That's it. All Australians should instantly start burning effigies of British politicians at their continued inaction n this issue.

Wasn't John Crawley beaten up in Aus? Now imagine the mincing if that was an Indian player...