Smith and Maiden join Yorkshire CCC

Leicestershire County Cricket Club has announced that Tom Smith and Alastair Maiden are to leave the coaching staff to join Yorkshire County Cricket Club.

First XI Assistant and Bowling Coach Smith joins Yorkshire CCC with immediate effect while Head of Academy Maiden will join on March 1st after the Running Foxes reluctantly agreed a compensation package for the duo.

Smith has been a key part of the coaching staff at the Uptonsteel County Ground since being appointed to the role of Second XI coach in 2018.

Following a successful period on the staff at Grace Road, Smith was offered the role of First XI Assistant and Bowling Coach ahead of the 2020 campaign.

He will join Yorkshire as Second XI Coach, a role that Smith has experience in from his time in the Midlands.

Smith has further developed the skillsets of the youthful bowling attack and overseen the growth of the bowling unit across all three formats.

The decision made by Smith is based on family life and some opportunities in the new role at Yorkshire.

Smith said: “It has been an absolute pleasure to have been given the opportunity to be able to coach at Leicestershire.

“Personally, I have had four and a half great years at the Club where I have the chance to work under some great coaches and learn a lot, which has obviously helped in my development as a coach.

“It has also been amazing to see some young players come through the ranks of the Second XI into the First XI and watch them develop both as players and as people. To see everyone having moved forward in their career at Leicestershire makes it worthwhile, and I believe that they are all in a good place heading into the new season.

“Of course it is sad to leave, but I am looking forward to the opportunity at Yorkshire CCC and the new challenges it brings.

“I will be forever thankful for the opportunity that Leicestershire offered me, and I will always be looking forward to return to Grace Road with fond memories.”

Maiden joined Leicestershire as Head of Academy at the beginning of 2020 following four years as batting coach and assistant coach with the England Women’s Cricket Team and nine years at Durham CCC working in the academy and as second eleven coach.

A stint as Interim Head Coach with England women following World Cup success in 2017 brought him to the Midlands with a host of experience.

During his time in the Midlands, Maiden has overseen the Academy which saw Rehan Ahmed, Alex Evans, Sam Bates and Nat Bowley graduate to the First XI.

The 39-year-old will take up the Assistant Coach and Batting specialist role at Yorkshire CCC.

Maiden commented: “Working at Leicestershire has been an absolute privilege. I have been thoroughly supported by everyone at the club from when I joined in 2020 to the decision to move on now.

“We have worked hard as an Academy coaching team and support staff to move things forward over the last few years and the team are in a great position to continue growing from the foundations that we have laid.

“I would like to thank Sean [Jarvis], Claude [Henderson] and Nico [Paul Nixon] for their support throughout my time and their understanding of my decision to now move elsewhere. I would also like to thank all of the academy players that I have had the pleasure of working with and their parents for the amazing support they give to us as a staff and their children, who without them would not have the privilege of representing this great club.

“I would also like to thank the Academy coaching staff at the Uptonsteel County Ground as it is truly a team effort.

“I wish everyone at Leicestershire CCC the best of luck in the coming season and for the future. I also look forward to many of the current crop of academy players stepping out into the arena of first team cricket over the next few years.”

The Club is sad to see two great professionals depart and have started the recruitment process.

Director of Cricket Claude Henderson said: “The work that both Tom [Smith] and Ali [Maiden] have done whilst here at Leicestershire has been above and beyond.

“They have laid solid foundations for their successors to come in and pick up the role, alongside their respective teams, as seamlessly as possible.

“Whilst they will be huge losses for the Club, we now have to look forward and focus on the recruitment process to successfully fill their positions. We all wish Tom and Ali well in the future.”

Everyone at Leicestershire County Cricket Club would like to thank Tom and Ali for their service to the Running Foxes and wish them both the very best of luck in their future endeavours.