Tom Abel was the son of Bobby Abel, the well-known Surrey and England cricketer, and the brother of Billy Abel who played for Surrey between 1909 and 1926. He had made his first-class debut for Surrey immediately after the Great War, but failed to win a regular place in the side, so opted to move to South Wales in a bid to gain a regular place in the Glamorgan side.
He duly qualified for Glamorgan by playing League cricket for Port Talbot and Maesteg Town, and during 1922 he made his debut against the Combined Oxford and Cambridge XI at the Arms Park. Abel subsequently played for the Welsh county for the next three seasons, during which time, the right handed batsman hit one Championship hundred – 107 against Leicestershire at Swansea.
ABEL, Thomas Ernest
Born – Kennington, London, 10th September 1890
Died – Lambeth, London, 23rd January 1937
Best performances for Glamorgan:
In First-class cricket – 107 v Leicestershire at Swansea,1924; 3/24 v Surrey at Swansea, 1924.
| M | I | NO | RUNS | AV | 100 | 50 | CT | ST | |
| First-class | 32 | 55 | 1 | 821 | 15.20 | 1 | 1 | 18 | – |
| Balls | M | R | W | AV | 5wI | 10wM | |
| First-class | 461 | 14 | 258 | 8 | 32.25 | – | – |