| Tom Wade | |
| Country: | England |
| Fullname: | Thomas Henry Wade |
| Birth Date: | 24 November 1910 |
| Birth Place: | Maldon, Essex, England |
| Death Place: | Colchester, Essex, England |
| Batting: | Left-handed |
| Bowling: | Right-arm off-spin |
| Role: | Wicketkeeper |
| Club1: | Essex |
| Year1: | 1929 to 1950 |
| Columns: | 1 |
| Column1: | First-class |
| Matches1: | 321 |
| Runs1: | 5024 |
| Bat Avg1: | 14.73 |
| 100S/50S1: | 0/15 |
| Top Score1: | 96 |
| Deliveries1: | 2669 |
| Wickets1: | 48 |
| Bowl Avg1: | 29.54 |
| Fivefor1: | 1 |
| Tenfor1: | 0 |
| Best Bowling1: | 5/64 |
| Catches/Stumpings1: | 414/177 |
| Date: | 23 December 2021 |
| Source: | https://www.espncricinfo.com/player/tom-wade-22254 Cricinfo |
Thomas Henry Wade (24 November 1910 – 25 July 1987) was an English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Essex from 1929 to 1950, mainly as a wicket-keeper.[1] [2]
Tom Wade was born in Essex and began playing for the county cricket team in 1929 as an off-spin bowler and lower-order batsman.[3] He took 33 wickets in his first season, including his best figures of 5 for 64 in the second innings in a close victory over Somerset.[3] [4] He had fewer opportunities in the next few seasons, although he made his highest score of 96 against Oxford University in 1932.[5]
He took up wicket-keeping, and soon achieved such a high standard that in 1934 he displaced Roy Sheffield as the Essex wicket-keeper.[3] In late 1936 he was on a private visit to Australia when he was asked to keep wicket for the English touring team, which had lost its two wicket-keepers to illness and injury. He played in three matches in October and November until Les Ames returned to fitness.[3]
Wade kept playing for Essex until fibrositis compelled him to retire in 1950. He was a popular player, and his benefit yielded nearly £4000, a record for Essex at the time.[3]