Frank Thomas

Notable Sports Figures
“Bryan Trottier, ‘Trots.’ “ Joy of Hockey. http://www.
joyofhockey.com/xRet1BryanTrottier.html (November
2, 2002).
“The Legends: Players: Bryan Trottier.” Legends of
Hockey. http://www.legendsofhockey.net:8080/
LegendsOfHockey/jsp/LegendsMember.jsp?mem=
p199702&type=Player&page=bio&list=#photo (November
8, 2002).
“Management/Coaching/Training Staff: Bryan Trottier
Head Coach.” New York Rangers. http://www.
newyorkrangers.com/team/coach.asp?coachid=113
(November 2, 2002).
“NHL Player Search: Rocky Trottier.” Legends of
Hockey. http://www.legendsofhockey.net:8080/
LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=
14576 (November 8, 2002).
Alex Tudor
1977-
British cricket player
Sketch by Don Amerman
An up-and-coming right-handed fast bowler, Alex
Tudor was a powerful young British cricket player
who showed plenty of promise as a bowler and a batter,
but injuries and inconsistency plagued his early career.
Great Promise
Born in the Kensington district of London, Alex
Tudor came from a family with origins in Barbados and
a cricket background. His father was a bus driver who
became a gateman at the Oval, the famous cricket stadium,
and his older brother was on the playing staff there.
Tudor excelled in cricket at any early age, playing for
London Schools from the age of eight. A right-hand fast
bowler and batsman, he was selected to England’s U15
team that played in South Africa in 1992-93 and for the
U17 team that squared off against India in 1994. In 1996-
97, Tudor played on the U19 squad that toured Pakistan.
In 1995, he made his first-class debut, playing for Surrey
at the age of 19. Tudor was impressive but suffered an injury
in his fifth game that ended his season prematurely.
Britain hadn’t seen such a strong, speedy bowler in
some time. Touted by Wisden, the foremost cricket authority,
as “an out-and-out speed merchant who can also
bat a bit,” Tudor used his size (6 foot 5, 195 pounds) and
muscular power to execute powerful bowls and tough
bounces that left opposing batsmen befuddled. He had a
dignified bearing and an excellent attitude, and was
Alex Tudor
Tudor
eager to learn and progress. Tudor was hailed as a blazing
fast bowler with a naturally smooth delivery.
Injuries and problems with his bowling form
plagued Tudor in 1996, and he did not make the Surrey
squad. But he earned a call-up to practice with the
England team before the First Ashes Test at Edgbaston
in 1997. Back at Surrey, Tudor again lost his form
and was ineffective, and had another disappointing
season in 1998. Still, he was selected for the Ashes
tour so that he could work with national bowling
coach Bob Cottam.
Cottam awas impressed with Tudor’s eagerness and
no-nonsense approach. His test debut was in the second
Test in November 1998 against Australia, and he impressed
observers. But Tudor was cut from the squad for
the next test, then recalled for the fourth, but could not
play because of a hip injury. In the fifth Test, he was
healthy and again impressive.
In his first home series, against New Zealand at Edgbaston,
Tudor bowled competently but made headlines
with the bat, hitting an unbeaten 99. He was named Man
of the Match and the Cricket Writers’ Club named him
Young Cricketer of the Year. “I’ve always enjoyed my
batting,” Tudor explained to CricInfo. “When I was
younger, I was an all-rounder but I lost it a bit after concentrating
on my bowling. I’d love to go as high in the
order as possible.” His future seemed assured, but a knee
injury kept him out of the next Test.
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