"We've Shown Our Class" | Thomas Proud Of Start After Northants Win

As Leicestershire head into a two-week break from first-class cricket “ flying high at the summit of Division Two “ Alfonso Thomas says his side have showcased ‘world-class’ qualities in the opening third of the campaign.

The Foxes’ latest victory, a 132-run win over Northamptonshire on Sunday, takes the Club 21 points clear at the top of the division after five rounds, and Thomas couldn’t be prouder of his team’s start.

“We’ve had a tough five weeks, but we’ve shown our class throughout,” the South African says. “The boys, as you can imagine, had a few beers to celebrate the win. But I think they deserved it. We’ve won three matches and could’ve won all five. That’s a very good position to be in.

 â€œThe most pleasing aspect is seeing everybody contribute at some point during the five games. I’m not just talking about the XI from this game. You think back to Glamorgan with the ever-green Chris Wright, Ben Mike, and the big Welshman, Roman [Walker], in the last game; everybody has played their part and that’s the sign of a very strong squad.”

Defending 288 when the afternoon session began on day three, Leicestershire were firm favourites on a pitch which had offered assistance to the bowlers throughout. But it took an inspired spell from England international Josh Hull “ who picked up three wickets, all clean bowled, in four overs “ to open the floodgates.

“I had a chat with Hully in the morning. He was a bit down on himself, as he gets, because he wants to bowl the perfect spell every time he bowls. But he broke the game open for us, which showed why he was given his Gold Fox cap at the start of the game and why England are so excited about him.

“That spell is evidence of what he’s capable of, but he’ll be the first to admit he has a way to go to get to a level that is going to see him play for England consistently. Saying that, those signs are very exciting if you’re a Leicestershire or England fan.”

It’s not just Hull who caught Thomas’ eye. The entire attack, containing the division’s leading wicket-taker; Ian Holland (21 wickets @ 17.38), and the ever-improving Ben Green (17 wickets @ 17.7), has the Foxes’ boss stumped for words.

“I’m running out of superlatives,” he laughs. “I spoke about the attack in the changing room. As a unit, to bowl the way we’ve bowled over five games - back-to-back - has been nothing short of world class.”

The perpetual pressure applied by the five-strong seam attack has been in evidence all season. Even when wickets haven’t fallen, they’ve never felt far away. A portent, the 48-year-old says, was best exemplified by the collapse Northamptonshire suffered pre-lunch on day two, where the visitors subsided from 73 for one to 87 for six within the space of half an hour.

“We had a chat that morning, and we thought if we can build pressure things can happen very quickly on this pitch. That’s exactly what happened. We took five wickets for 14 runs before lunch, and a similar thing happened in their second innings.

“We tend to go out, be really disciplined and suffocate the batting side. That’s the plan. It’s still up to the lads to execute it, however, and over the first five games they’ve executed immaculately.”

With 26 wickets falling in the opening two days of the contest, many were left pondering what a chasable target might be. When Leicestershire added 79 more runs to their overnight total for their final four wickets, it left Northamptonshire requiring 289 runs for victory. An ask happily above Thomas’ target on what, at times, proved a tricky batting wicket.

“I said anything north of 250 was going to be really tough to chase,” he says. “It certainly wasn’t moving sideways, and I think batters had a misconception that it was going to do a lot. There was a lot of grass on the wicket, but it was quite dry. Ultimately, both sides bowled well.”

Quizzed about a match-winning point of difference, Thomas highlights the performance of returning batter Rishi Patel. On his second appearance back from a dislocated thumb, the opener scored a measured century on the opening day. With no other player passing fifty in the game, it was an innings which illustrated the 26-year-old’s commendable calibre.

“I said to Rishi that’s probably one of the best hundreds he’ll score in his career. His knock was probably the difference between the two sides. He was panicking a bit, because Sol and Rehan did so well as an opening partnership, but as one of our senior batters he showed his class. To bat two sessions on that pitch on the first day, I thought that exemplified the class of the man.”

Thomas, and the majority of his Leicestershire squad, will now turn their attention to T20 cricket for two NCCA Showcase matches against Staffordshire at Uptonsteel County Ground on Friday. Upon their return to red-ball action against Middlesex in 10 days’ time, Thomas knows his squad selection will be tougher than ever.

“It’s going to be very difficult to pick the team, because I’m sure everyone will be fit going to Lord’s. We will pick the 13 that we believe will be the best squad to win that particular game.”