ALFONSO PROGRESSING WELL

Alfonso Thomas is well on the road to recovery after breaking his ankle.

Earlier this week had the ball back in his hand and was walking through his bowling drills.  The 37 year old paceman enjoyed a highly successful 2014 season during which he claimed 57 first class wickets at 23.94, which included setting a new Somerset record with four wickets in four balls against Sussex.

However, a few weeks after the end of the campaign he slipped while playing golf and suffered a high ankle fracture, which required surgery.

Alfonso said: “Things are going pretty well for me and I reckon we maybe just ahead of schedule. I’m a bit frustrated because I can’t do some of the things that the rest of the lads are doing. I have been doing a lot of mobility work on my ankle and have been using the pool at the Nuffield Hospital in Taunton, which they have kindly allowed me to use which has been great.”

“Now it’s a question of getting the strength back up and getting the ankle back to as normal as it can be, so it will be a long time until I am 100% fit but things are looking good for the start of the season.”

Alfonso went on: “I have had the cast removed and will have another check up on December 22nd and hopefully I will be able to begin running soon after Christmas. I have been walking through my bowling drills just to get the bowling muscles going a little bit, but I am trying hard not to get overly excited about things as I have to be patient, so everybody is keeping a very close eye on me!”

Jamie Thorpe the Somerset Physiotherapist said: “Everything is looking really good and Alfonso is working hard and being really diligent about things.”

The Physio added: “We are pretty much on schedule and pleased with the way that things are going. We have been lucky enough to have access to the excellent facilities of Nuffield Health Taunton for elements of Alfonso’s rehabilitation along with using an Exogen machine and New Muscle stimulation device that we purchased from Chattanooga. These factors have given us a great deal of support whilst managing Alfonso’s recovery.”