Former Proteas bowler Alfonso Thomas has been appointed as the bowling coach for the West Indies.

Thomas played his only T20I against Pakistan back in 2007, where he took three wickets as they won the game by 10 wickets. He has since held specialist coaching roles in championship cricket in the UK.

The 41-year-old Thomas – a former Somerset limited overs captain – also played in the IPL, Big Bash League, and is ninth on the list of the all-time most successful T20 bowlers.

‘We are focused on improving team performance, as well as broadcasting and deepening the coaching expertise in the region,’ Cricket West Indies director Jimmy Adams said, quoted by ESPNCricinfo.

‘We know we’ve got vital games and tournaments this year, and we’re confident that these appointments will strengthen the Windies squads for this year and our future plans.’

Thomas, a journeyman cricketer throughout his career, played for the Northerns, Dolphins, Titans and Lions among others, before finishing his career with the Perth Scorchers in Australia’s Big Bash League.

Thomas was one of a number of new appointments announced by CWI. Rawl Lewis was named the team manager, while the other inclusions in coach Stuart Law’s team were physiotherapist David Kershaw, and Corey Bocking as conditioning coach.

The West Indies will take part in World Cup qualifiers in Zimbabwe next month, and are scheduled to face Sri Lanka in a three-Test series at home in June.

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