"We Had Really Good Conversations" | Thomas Lauds Team Bonding On Cyprus Trip

As he readies himself for his second full campaign as Leicestershire Head Coach, we caught up with Alfonso Thomas to reflect on last week’s warm-weather camp in Cyprus.

The five-day trip to the picturesque Mediterranean island built on the Foxes’ pre-season work in the Indoor School at Uptonsteel County Ground, while reuniting the group as one as half a dozen stars returned from wintering overseas.

“We had some really good conversations,” Thomas says as he reflects on the trip. “It was a good opportunity to have an alignment camp to chat about how we want to approach the season and what we want to get out of it, as well as our values as a team and how we want to be perceived.”

The South African steered a powerful morning meeting on the opening day of the tour, outlining his philosophies and ambitions for the season ahead, while players shared photos from their earliest cricket memories and opened up about the factors that drive them forwards.

“It was a different conversation to last year. Because it was my first year, there was emphasis on what my expectations were and how I would operate as a head coach, but this time it was more of a two-way street.

“We focussed on what we want to achieve and how the lads see themselves getting us to that next level as a collective unit. We came out of that discussion with a better understanding of each other, knowing that everybody’s different but we’re all aligned to go and achieve the same goal. At the end of the day, it all comes down to one thing; that’s team first.”

A striking note from the three-hour conversation came from Assistant Coach, James Taylor. Having played at the top level internationally “ with 34 England appearances - and been a highly-decorated county cricketer, the 35-year-old praised the current squad atmosphere as ‘the best’ he’s been a part of in his career.

“Titch was exactly right,” says Thomas. “It’s not about what I’ve built, it’s about what the team has created to get our environment to the level it has become. Titch and I are there to facilitate that, but we want the lads to drive it and keep each other accountable. That’s what we encourage and hopefully that continues to grow this season.”

Alongside team meetings and bonding activities to strengthen club culture, the squad of 14 players completed a scenic 5K run along the seafront, as well as fitness and fielding work with the Club’s Sports Science and Medicine department. It supplemented an arduous winter’s work back at Grace Road, a fourth-month grind which has pleased Thomas.

“I’ve been very impressed by the way the guys have gone about their business. We’ve had a smaller group, due to guys being with England or in Australia, which has meant we could be a lot more hands on as coaches.

“There’s been some great progress made both fitness wise and in terms of developing techniques with bat and ball, so we’re all excited to get out on the grass and put those skills into practice. 

Weather permitting, the Foxes will be out in the middle and outdoor nets immediately upon their return as they gear towards their opening pre-season test against Leeds/Bradford UCCE on Wednesday 19 March.

“The guys are champing at the bit to get going,” beams Thomas. “It’s the perfect opportunity for our lads to set their stall out and lay down markers early. It’s up to the lads to stake their claim and play their way into our eleven.”

Alongside the 14 players who trained in Cyprus, six players “ Rehan Ahmed, Ben Green, Ian Holland, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hull, and Logan van Beek “ will all link up with the group at various points over the coming weeks. A squad brimming with talent, it creates healthy selection dilemmas for the Foxes boss.

“It’s exactly what we’re after. With the depth we have now, it’s inevitable there will be competition for places. Guys have to be on their toes, we can’t have complacency, so I’m certainly going to have a headache picking the first team for Glamorgan, but it’s a good headache to have.”

Not one to look to too far ahead, Thomas believes short-term targets will help Leicestershire achieve long-term goals. “It’s the old cliché of we’ll treat it game by game, there’s not going to be talk of promotion in April. For us, it’s important to start the season well, and the work we’ve done here and in Cyprus has put us in the best position to do that.”