James Tomlinson

James Andrew Tomlinson (born 12 June 1982) is a former English cricketer. A left-arm medium pace bowler, capable of producing swing at a brisk pace, Tomlinson first appeared in senior cricket for the Hampshire Cricket Board in List A cricket in the 2000 NatWest Trophy. He first appeared for Hampshire in first-class cricket in 2002, at this stage of career he had to work his cricket career around his studies at Cardiff University. In 2003 he was Hampshire's recipient of the NBC Denis Compton Award. His early career with Hampshire was beset by injury, which limited his appearances for the county. By 2008, Tomlinson had established himself in the Hampshire team, mostly as a specialist first-class player. It was in this season that he became the first Hampshire bowler since Malcolm Marshall to end the season as the leading wicket taker in the County Championship, finishing with 67 wickets.

Born at Winchester, Hampshire on 12 June 1982, the son of Canon Ian Tomlinson, Tomlinson was educated at Harrow Way School and was captain of the school cricket team which reached the semi-finals of the Hampshire Schools Cup in 1995 (a notable achievement for a school from the state sector), from where he attended Cricklade College, Andover. He later studied for his degree at Cardiff University.

Tomlinson played his first senior match in List A match in the 2000 NatWest Trophy for the Hampshire Cricket Board (HCB) against Huntingdonshire at Grasmere Road, Cove, with Tomlinson going wicketless in the match, though his ten over spell conceded only 17 runs. In that same season, he also made two MCCA Knockout Trophy appearances for the HCB, against Dorset and Berkshire. The following season, Tomlinson appeared in a single List A match for Wiltshire in the 2001 Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy against the Derbyshire Cricket Board at Hardenhuish Park, Chippenham. He claimed his maiden one-day wicket in this match when he dismissed opening batsman Andrew Goodwin.