Alfonso Thomas takes Leicestershire head coach job

Leicestershire have appointed Alfonso Thomas as their new head coach, having overseen the club's Metro Bank One-Day Cup success while doing the job on an interim basis. Thomas, who has signed a two-year contract, will be assisted by James Taylor after his promotion from batting coach.

Thomas took over after the departure of Paul Nixon in mid-season, having been Leicestershire's assistant/lead bowling coach since March 2022. The former fast bowler has previously held coaching positions with Kent, Surrey, Hampshire and West Indies.

With Taylor as his assistant, Thomas helped guide the Foxes to a dramatic, last-ball victory over Hampshire in the One-Day Cup final at Trent Bridge in September, bringing Leicestershire their first piece of List A silverware since 1985.

"It wasn't something that was planned, but after conversations with people close to me and seeing what we started to build last season I thought it'd be a real shame if I didn't give it a go," Thomas said. "James and I complemented each other really well. We communicated strongly and created an environment for the guys to be the best version of themselves, but also one where they were willing to do it together.

"I'm very excited by the squad we've assembled. We have an opportunity for this club to play a brand of cricket that's exciting, one which the people of Leicester can be proud of and that will see people queuing up to watch us play."

As well as their One-Day Cup success, Leicestershire were in the hunt for promotion from Division Two until the penultimate round of the season - having finished bottom of the pile in six of the preceding nine seasons.

The club has also buoyed by the recent emergence of talented youngsters such as legspinner Rehan Ahmed - the youngest man to be capped by England in all three formats - and tall left-arm seamer Josh Hull.

Claude Henderson, Leicestershire's director of cricket, said: "Alfonso has shown his capabilities as a head coach, and turned a tough time for the club into a successful summer. Along with James and the backroom team, he got the changing room together and organised a high-performance culture.

"Alfonso and James have built a solid partnership and we look forward to seeing what they can achieve together with an exciting group of players."