"We Rose To The Occasion" | Thomas Reflects On Historic Lord's Win

After ending a 45-year drought for a red-ball win at Lord’s to extend their runaway lead at the top of Division Two to 30 points, Leicestershire boss Alfonso Thomas says his side ‘rose to the occasion’ at the fabled Home of Cricket.

Thomas’ pride follows a seven-wicket triumph over Middlesex on Sunday, sealing a third Championship win in a row “ the first time the Foxes have achieved that in the same season since the 1998 title-winning campaign. It’s testament to the class of ‘25’s scintillating form that they are challenging the archivists to research, and subsequently rewrite, such history.

With some much history woven into the rich tapestry of Lord’s, Leicestershire’s Head Coach admits he encouraged his players to absorb their surroundings before getting down to business.

“On Friday morning, I asked the lads at some point before 11 o'clock, just to take a personal moment and think how many greats of our game have played here. We are always honoured to grace the Home of Cricket.

“There were a few lads playing there for the first time this week, but we didn’t want them getting overawed. The message we gave them was to go and embrace the quirkiness of it, but to stick to our processes, and the guys certainly rose to the occasion.”

A third consecutive win inside three days, it was Leicestershire’s first first-class success in St John’s Wood since 1980, where a Roger Tolchard century and Nick Cook five-fer gave the Foxes victory by an innings and 100 runs. Thomas confirms he was aware of the torturous 45-year wait.

“45 years is a long time,” he nods. “We were looking at the honours board to see who scored a hundred at Lord’s in 1980, and it was Viv Richards, who just so happens to be one of my favourite cricketers. That's how long ago it was.

“We were just happy to get the win and end that run, it's very satisfying. We stayed after the game on the balcony and enjoyed each other’s company. That's exactly how it should be if you go to the Home of Cricket, because making those kinds of memories is why you play the game.”

The tight-knit bonds between the current squad have been remarked upon many times before, but it’s a togetherness which Thomas highlights as a pivotal driver behind Leicestershire’s ever-climbing upwards momentum.

“I was so happy for the lads, because they’ve bought into everything. Not just the way we play, but the culture side of our philosophies too. These guys really enjoy each other's success, and they’ve got each other's backs. There might be a player that has an off day, but there's always somebody that comes in and covers that. And that's exactly what we've done well throughout this campaign so far.”

A discernible difference in Leicestershire’s squad this year has been the quality of their bowling unit. Boasting the division’s leading wicket-taker, Ian Holland, who took his first five-fer of the campaign at Lord’s, and international quality in Rehan Ahmed, Josh Hull and Logan van Beek, the Foxes have been rampant with the ball so far this summer.

What’s arguably been most impressive throughout, is Leicestershire’s unrelenting proclivity to pressurise the batters by holding their line and lengths. In the past three games, the Foxes have shown unerring patience to induce collapses of nine wickets for 65 runs against Gloucestershire, five for 14 versus Northamptonshire, and six for 34 either side of lunch on day three against Middlesex.

“We’ve been incredibly disciplined,” says Thomas.  â€œGuys know their roles to a tee and have the clarity to go out and execute. There's no kind of magic blueprint to our process. We've just done the basics better than the opposition. That’s all.

“I reminded the guys on Saturday night of the very similar situation we had against Gloucestershire going into the third morning there. We took a lot of wickets quite quickly. I said we've just got to stick to our game plans, because we know it works. It might not happen in the first hour, but we know eventually if we keep throwing punches that we will get those breakthroughs.”

Those punches have landed like some of the heavyweight greats. With 27 wickets at just 15.44, Division Two’s top wicket-taker Ian Holland is fighting like prime Muhammad Ali this term. After claiming a five-wicket-haul on Friday, the all-rounder has drawn more praise from his Head Coach.

“The man is walking on water at the moment, so he's got to enjoy that. He knows that it’s not going to last forever, but while it's happening for him, he's going to absolutely enjoy it. As the leader of our attack so far this year, he’s delivered in every match, and he deserves all the praise coming his way.”

Thomas is also quick to champion Netherlands international Logan van Beek for his performance, with the 34-year-old taking four wickets on his Lord’s bow.

“It was Logan's first time at Lord’s, and he was like a kid in a sweet shop,” Thomas laughs. “He was fired up and perhaps tried too hard at times, it was just the occasion. But then he settled down and put the ball in the right areas. That little spell he bowled in the second innings was absolutely phenomenal.”

With bat continuing to dominate ball again this week, the first innings display of Leicestershire captain Peter Handscomb looks all the more extraordinary. With 36 individual innings started across the three days, the Australian international was the only player to pass fifty in the match, making a measured 87 to hand the Foxes a vital 42-run lead.

“Pete showed his class again. It was just his demeanour, his calmness and how he backs his processes as well. He kept it very simple and was the glue that held it all together for us. It gave guys like Dutchy and Ben Green the chance to bat around him, which allowed us to keep ourselves ahead in the game. Those runs were crucial.”

With the timeless tales of 1980 finally added to over the weekend, Leicestershire will now have their sights set on making it four in a row with victory over Lancashire this week. If they do, they’ll head into the second half of the campaign knowing they’re prime contenders for promotion.

To watch Leicestershire hunt a fourth straight win, secure your seats HERE.