Thomas Ridgeway (dates unknown) was an English cricketer of the mid-Georgian period who played for Slindon and Sussex under the patronage of Charles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond. He also represented various England teams. A top-class player, he made numerous appearances in important matches, both eleven-a-side and single wicket. In the 1743 season, he was rated as one of "the six best players in England".
Perhaps the biggest match of the 1743 season was the single wicket encounter between Three of Kent and Three of England, which was played 11 July 1743 on the Artillery Ground. It was publicised as a contest involving "the six best players in England". The Daily Advertiser of Thursday, 7 July 1743 said Ridgeway would play for Kent alongside William Hodsoll and Val Romney. The England team was Richard Newland, William Sawyer, and John Bryant. However, Ridgeway had to withdraw, and his place was taken by John Cutbush, described as "a clockmaker from Maidstone".
Kent won the match by 2 runs. The London Evening Post said the crowd was computed to be over 10,000. A return match was arranged at Sevenoaks Vine on Wednesday, 27 July, but it did not come off.
Ridgeway played for Surrey & Sussex against London at the Artillery Ground on 2 June 1744. This match has left the sport's earliest-known scorecard. Ridgeway scored 6 in the first innings and did not bat in the second. The scorecard did not include bowling or dismissal details. Surrey & Sussex won by 55 runs.
Surrey and Sussex played three inter-county matches against each other in August 1745. The first was played Monday, 19 August on the Artillery Ground, and Surrey won "by several notches". The match was reported in the St James Evening Post on the same and the next day. Ridgeway and the Newland brothers played for Sussex. It was on the same day that Charles Edward Stuart raised his standard at Glenfinnan to formally begin the '45 Rebellion. The rebellion had little, if any, impact on cricket in south-east England.
Two days later, on the 21st, the teams met again on Moulsey Hurst, but the result is unknown. On the day of the match, the Daily Advertiser announced: "The Streatham Captain (i.e., George Williams), with his Flying Squadron of Red Caps, will attend at his grand Tent, to entertain Gentlemen with a cold Collation, the best French Wines, and other Liquours".
The final match, possibly a decider if Sussex won on the 21st, took place 26 August on Bury Hill, Arundel, also called Berry Hill. Ridgeway didn't play in this one, apparently because the Duke of Richmond, Sussex's patron, left him out of the team. It would seem that this decision backfired, and that Surrey won the game, in view of a comment made by Lord John Sackville in a letter to the Duke dated Saturday, 14 September:
<blockquote>I wish you had let Ridgeway play instead of your stopper behind it might have turned the match in our favour.</blockquote>
Sackville's comment confirms Ridgeway's prowess, but it is the last mention of him in the sources. Nothing is known of his private life, including his dates of birth and death.