With Taylor as 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, giving Leicestershire their first piece of silverware of the A List since 1985.
“It wasn’t something planned, but after conversations with people close to me and seeing what we started to build last season I thought it would be a real shame not to try it,” Thomas said. “James and I complemented each other very well. We communicated strongly and created an environment for the boys to be the best versions of themselves, but also one where they were willing to do it together.
“I am very excited about the team we have put together. We have an opportunity for this club to play a type of cricket that is exciting, one that the people of Leicester can be proud of and one that people will queue up to see us play. “
In addition to their success in the One-Day Cup, Leicestershire were in the hunt for promotion from Division Two until the penultimate round of the season, having finished bottom of the table in six of the previous nine seasons.
The club has also been boosted by the recent emergence of talented youngsters such as spinner 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 demonstrated his capabilities as head coach and turned a difficult time for the club into a successful summer. Together with James and the backroom team, he rallied the dressing room and organized a culture high perfomance.
“Alfonso and James have built a strong partnership and we look forward to seeing what they can achieve together with an exciting group of players.”
