Tom Helm (cricketer)

{{short description|English cricketer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2016}}

{{Use British English|date=February 2016}}

{{Infobox cricketer

| name = Tom Helm

| image = 1 09 Tom Helm.jpg

| caption = Helm in 2024

| country = England

| fullname = Thomas George Helm

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1994|05|7}}

| birth_place = Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England

| heightft =

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| batting = Right-handed

| bowling = Right-arm medium-fast

| role = Bowler

| international =

| oneodi =

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| oneT20I =

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| club1 = Middlesex

| year1 = {{nowrap|2012–present}}

| clubnumber1 = 7

| club2 = → Glamorgan (on loan)

| year2 = 2014

| club3 = Birmingham Phoenix

| year3 = 2023–2024

| type1 = FC

| debutdate1 = 17 September

| debutyear1 = 2013

| debutfor1 = Middlesex

| debutagainst1 = Yorkshire

| type2 = LA

| debutdate2 = 20 June

| debutyear2 = 2013

| debutfor2 = Middlesex

| debutagainst2 = Yorkshire

| columns = 3

| column1 = FC

| matches1 = 60

| runs1 = 1,085

| bat avg1 = 18.08

| 100s/50s1 = 0/4

| top score1 = 64

| deliveries1 = 9,632

| wickets1 = 167

| bowl avg1 = 31.38

| fivefor1 = 5

| tenfor1 = 0

| best bowling1 = 6/110

| catches/stumpings1 = 23/–

| column2 = LA

| matches2 = 40

| runs2 = 206

| bat avg2 = 12.87

| 100s/50s2 = 0/0

| top score2 = 30

| deliveries2 = 1,816

| wickets2 = 56

| bowl avg2 = 31.10

| fivefor2 = 1

| tenfor2 = 0

| best bowling2 = 5/33

| catches/stumpings2 = 15/–

| column3 = T20

| matches3 = 101

| runs3 = 275

| bat avg3 = 11.95

| 100s/50s3 = 0/0

| top score3 = 28*

| deliveries3 = 1,945

| wickets3 = 109

| bowl avg3 = 27.00

| fivefor3 = 1

| tenfor3 = 0

| best bowling3 = 5/11

| catches/stumpings3 = 22/–

| date = 29 September

| year = 2024

| source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/player/512907.html Cricinfo

}}

Thomas George Helm (born 7 May 1994) is a cricketer who plays for Middlesex County Cricket Club.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/player/tom-helm-512907|title=Tom Helm profile and biography, stats, records, averages, photos and videos|website=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=16 November 2021}} A fast bowler from Buckinghamshire, Helm signed for Middlesex in June 2012 when he was 18.{{cite web |url=http://www.middlesexccc.com/articles/2012-06-11/tom-helm-signs-for-middlesex |title=Middlesex County Cricket Club |access-date=2013-06-20 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120618023216/http://www.middlesexccc.com/articles/2012-06-11/tom-helm-signs-for-middlesex |archive-date=18 June 2012 |df=dmy-all }}

Angus Fraser, Middlesex's managing director of cricket, said of Helm's {{frac|2|1|2}}-year contract deal:

"Tom is an exciting young fast bowler and we are delighted to have him on board. He is the fifth local boy we have signed in the past couple of years - Ravi Patel, Adam Rossington, Gurjit Sandhu and Ollie Wilkin are the others - and we hope that, along with these other cricketers, he will play a major role in Middlesex cricket in years to come.”

He made his List A debut against Yorkshire in June 2013.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/yorkshire-bank-40-2013-592757/yorkshire-vs-middlesex-group-c-593407/full-scorecard|title=Full Scorecard of Middlesex vs Yorkshire Group C 2013 - Score Report |website=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=16 November 2021}} In a rain-affected match, he didn't bat and had yet to bowl before the match came to an early end. Three days later, Helm played his second List A match against Unicorns where he took 3-27. He suffered a stress fracture which prevented him from reaching his full potential as a youth cricketer.

In the summer of 2020, Helm was named in a 55-man group of players to begin training ahead of international fixtures starting in England following the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web|url=https://www.ecb.co.uk/england/men/news/1674230/england-men-confirm-back-to-training-group |title=England Men confirm back-to-training group |work=England and Wales Cricket Board |access-date=29 May 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/29239315/alex-hales,-liam-plunkett-left-england-name-55-man-training-group |title=Alex Hales, Liam Plunkett left out as England name 55-man training group |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=29 May 2020}} He was included in England's 24-man group for behind closed doors training for the One Day International (ODI) series against Ireland,{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/29433420/injured-chris-jordan-misses-england-odi-squad-face-ireland |title=Injured Chris Jordan misses England's ODI squad to face Ireland |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=9 July 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ecb.co.uk/england/men/news/1717212/england-men-name-behind-closed-doors-odi-training-group |title=England men name behind-closed-doors ODI training group |work=England and Wales Cricket Board |access-date=9 July 2020}} though he did not make the final squad. In November 2020, he was named as a reserve player in England's squad for their series against South Africa.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/54795089 |title=South Africa v England: Ben Stokes named in Twenty20 squad for white-ball tour |work=BBC Sport |access-date=3 November 2020}}

In July 2021, Helm was named in England's ODI squad for their series against Pakistan,{{cite web|url=https://www.ecb.co.uk/england/men/news/2184668/england-men-announce-new-squad-for-royal-london-series-against-pakistan |title=England Men announce new squad for Royal London Series against Pakistan |work=England and Wales Cricket Board |access-date=6 July 2021}} after the original squad for the tour was forced to withdraw following positive tests for COVID-19.{{cite web|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/2184648 |title=Ben Stokes to captain England against Pakistan after seven members in bio-bubble test positive for COVID-19 |work=International Cricket Council |access-date=6 July 2021}} In September 2022, he was named in England's T20I squad for the tour of Pakistan.{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/t20-world-cup-2022-england-keep-faith-with-old-guard-as-ben-stokes-mark-wood-chris-woakes-return-for-t20-world-cup-1332090 |title=England keep faith with old guard as Ben Stokes, Mark Wood, Chris Woakes return for T20 World Cup |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=2 September 2022}}