Alfonso Thomas Joins LCCC

Leicestershire CCC is excited to announce Alfonso Thomas has been appointed as First XI Assistant Coach and Lead Bowling Coach at Uptonsteel County Ground.

Thomas, who has spent the past three seasons as Assistant Coach at Hampshire CCC, will take over the reins from Tom Smith, who joined Yorkshire CCC last month.

The former South African international had a glittering career, claiming over 1,000 career wickets, whilst he has built up an impressive coaching CV following his retirement from playing back in 2015.

After a year at Warwickshire CCC, Thomas’ most notable spell in English cricket came between 2008 and 2015, where he took over 550 wickets for Somerset CCC.

The 45-year-old forged a successful career across all three formats, leaving him fifth in Somerset’s all-time leading first-class wicket-taking charts with 308 scalps, while he is the county’s joint-top leading T20 wicket-taker with 137 dismissals.

After developing a formidable reputation as a death bowler, with an excellent yorker in his armoury, Thomas became a prized asset in the shortest format and went on to earn multiple T20 franchise honours.

He represented Pune Warriors in the IPL in both 2011 and 2012, as well as Adelaide Strikers for the 2011-12 BBL season, whilst he won the 2013 BPL with Dhaka Gladiators and back-to-back Big Bash titles with Perth Scorchers (2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons).

After he called time on a 17-year professional playing career in 2015, Thomas furthered his knowledge of the game with high-profile coaching stints at Kent CCC, West Indies, Khulna Titans and Surrey CCC, before his most recent role as Assistant Coach at Hampshire.

Speaking about his attraction to the Club, Thomas said: “I had a conversation with Nico (Paul Nixon) and Claude (Henderson). They had a clear vision in terms of where they wanted to take this team and that aligned with mine.
“It’s a young team, but it’s a talented team. They look a very close-knit unit, and every successful team I’ve been a part of as a player or a coach has had that, so it certainly aligned with my outlook for what a successful team looks like.
“When I got offered the role, it was a no brainer. I can’t wait to get stuck in.”

Alfonso joined up with the squad during this week’s warm-up fixture against Northants and will now prepare the group ahead of Monday’s 3-day game at home to Leeds/Bradford UCCE.

To watch an extended interview with Alfonso Thomas about his arrival at the Club, click HERE