Complex sentence: He was never a bowler of Geary's class--thus was never picked for a home Test or Ashes tour--but for the best part of three decades he was a vital member of a generally struggling Leicestershire team.
Split into simpler sentences: He was never a bowler of Geary's class and thus was never picked for a home Test or for the Ashes tour. However, for the best part of three decades he was a vital member of a generally struggling Leicestershire team.