Thami Tsolekile

{{short description|South African cricketer (born 1980)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}

{{Use South African English|date=August 2012}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Thami Tsolekile

| birth_name = Thami Lungisa Tsolekile

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1980|10|9|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Cape Town, Cape Province, South Africa

| relatives = Lungile Tsolekile (Cousin){{Cite news|date=14 Oct 2016|title=Langa's kids and their hockey 'bats'|work=Mail & uardian|url=https://mg.co.za/article/2016-10-14-00-langas-kids-and-their-hockey-bats/}}

| module =

{{Infobox field hockey player

| embed = yes

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| nationalyears1 = ?-2000

| nationalteam1 = South Africa

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{{MedalCountry|{{RSA}}}}

{{MedalCompetition|African Cup of Nations}}

{{MedalGold|2000 Bulawayo|}}

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{{Infobox cricketer

| embed = yes

| country = South Africa

| batting = Right-handed

| bowling = Right-arm off spin

| role = Wicket-keeper

| international = true

| testdebutdate = 20 November

| testdebutyear = 2004

| testdebutagainst = India

| testcap = 294

| lasttestdate = 17 December

| lasttestyear = 2004

| lasttestagainst = England

| club1 = Western Province

| year1 = {{nowrap|1998/99–2008/09}}

| club2 = Cape Cobras

| year2 = 2005/06–2007/08

| club3 = Lions

| year3 = 2009/10–2015/16

| hidedeliveries = true

| columns = 4

| column1 = Test

| matches1 = 3

| runs1 = 47

| bat avg1 = 9.40

| 100s/50s1 = 0/0

| top score1 = 22

| catches/stumpings1 = 6/0

| column2 = FC

| matches2 = 160

| runs2 = 5,844

| bat avg2 = 30.43

| 100s/50s2 = 6/29

| top score2 = 159

| catches/stumpings2 = 499/35

| column3 = LA

| matches3 = 142

| runs3 = 1,470

| bat avg3 = 21.30

| 100s/50s3 = 0/4

| top score3 = 68

| catches/stumpings3 = 186/23

| column4 = T20

| matches4 = 80

| runs4 = 706

| bat avg4 = 21.39

| 100s/50s4 = 0/2

| top score4 = 58

| catches/stumpings4 = 49/14

| date = 9 July

| year = 2021

| source = https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/8/8122/8122.html CricketArchive

}}

}}

Thami Lungisa Tsolekile (born 9 October 1980) is a South African former cricketer who played three Test matches for the national side as a wicketkeeper in 2004–05. He was educated in Cape Town at Pinelands High School.

In first-class cricket, Tsolekile was a regular wicketkeeper and captain of the Cape Cobras. At the beginning of the 2009/10 season, he moved up to Johannesburg to play for the Highveld Lions, after losing his place in the Cape Cobras side to Ryan Canning. During the season, he scored his second first-class century and improved his highest score to 151 not out in a drawn match against Warriors at East London. He was involved in a South African domestic record partnership of 365 for the sixth wicket with opener Stephen Cook, who went on to make a record 390.{{Cite web|url=http://www.cricinfo.com/southafrica/content/story/431114.html|title = Cook smashes South African batting record}}

He also played hockey for his country at international level, scoring on debut,{{cite web|url=https://www.theroar.com.au/2014/10/13/test-cricketers-played-international-field-hockey/|title=Test cricketers who played international field hockey|first=Rustom|last=Deboo|date=12 October 2014|language=English|publisher=The Roar|accessdate=12 January 2021}}{{Cite web|title=Men Field Hockey 6th Africa Nations Cup 2000 Bulawayo (ZIM) 13-20.05 - Winner South Africa|url=http://www.todor66.com/hockey/field/Africa/Men_2000.html}} and played football during his childhood.

On 11 July 2012, Tsolekile was selected to play in South Africa's Test squad against England.{{cite news |url=http://www.wisdenindia.com/tsolekile-drafted-into-test-squad |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130209085845/http://www.wisdenindia.com/tsolekile-drafted-into-test-squad |url-status=dead |archive-date=9 February 2013 |title=Tsolekile drafted into Test squad |publisher=Wisden India |date=11 July 2012 }}

On 8 August 2016, Tsolekile was handed a 12-year ban for his role in numerous match-fixing violations in 2015. Jean Symes (7 years), Ethy Mbhalati (10 years), Lonwabo Tsotsobe (8 years) and Pumelela Matshikwe (10 years) also received similar bans from Cricket South Africa for their involvement in the various match-fixing activities.{{cite news |url=http://www.sport24.co.za/Cricket/csa-hands-out-hefty-bans-on-4-match-fixers-20160808 |title=CSA hands out hefty bans on 4 match-fixers |website=News24 |date=8 August 2016 |accessdate=8 August 2016}}{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/southafrica/content/story/1043969.html |title=Tsolekile among four players banned by CSA |accessdate=8 August 2016 |work=ESPN Cricinfo}}