Former South African seamer Alfonso Thomas has been hired by Hampshire as an assistant coach.

Thomas played one Twenty20 International for the Proteas against Pakistan at the Wanderers in Johannesburg in 2007.

He also represented the Pune Warriors, Adelaide Strikers and Dhaka Gladiators in the Indian Premier League, Big Bash League and Bangladesh Premier League.

The right-arm seamer and right-handed batsman ended his playing career with Sussex and Somerset in English county cricket in 2015.

‘Hampshire Cricket are delighted to announce the appointment of Alfonso Thomas and Jimmy Adams as new assistant coaches,’ read a statement from the County Championship Division One outfit.

‘Thomas, the former South Africa seamer, who enjoyed a 17-year playing career, including eight years with Somerset, moved into coaching following his retirement and has since held roles with Kent, Surrey, Khulna Titans – which saw him work alongside Sri Lanka legend Mahela Jayawardene – and the West Indies. He joins the Club as an assistant coach and will work closely with the squad’s bowlers.

‘Former Hampshire captain Adams, who amassed more than 20,000 runs in a career spanning 16 years and 491 matches for the club before retiring at the end of the 2018 season, also becomes an assistant coach and will focus on the Hampshire second XI.

The 42-year-old Thomas will work alongside former Proteas assistant coach Adrian Birrell.

‘The duo join first team manager Adrian Birrell as part of a new coaching set-up and will lead the club’s pre-season preparations ahead of the commencement of the 2019 campaign in April,’ concluded the statement.

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