Being his first head/club coaching job there are emotions. “A bit daunting but exciting at the same time and I’m proud and honoured to be asked and thought of by a club as you don’t get many opportunities for a role like this,” the 30-year-old told The Free Press.
“The club reminds me of my own back home in Cornwall, UK, so it has a really nice feel to it. Having caught up with Paul (Lavis, president) and Jarryd (Lane, captain), you can see it’s a really well-run club with a lot of passion, lots of talent currently and more coming through with the youth set-up so I’m very keen to get stuck in and hopefully keep the club progressing in the right direction, and look forward to the challenge.”
Thomas is close friends with last year’s playing coach Jarryd Hatton and has always followed his cricket closely, bouncing ideas off each other when it comes to playing/coaching and tactics.
“Jarryd has explained in depth the club’s strengths and culture of the club which excites me so I can’t wait to get stuck in,” he said.
“I’d say we’re well balanced with the bat and a lot of fire power with the ball, and I have a few ideas in mind that I’d like us to look at, try to keep progressing and improving but I’m keeping those details close to the chest for now. “
Corowa’s new coach considers the Roos to be a well-balanced group regarding age and experience, a lot of younger players who have played A grade consistently and still learning their trade with some more experienced guys to help guide through crucial moments.
Recently Thomas completed the Level 2 certificate in coaching which he considers was a great experience and reassured him he is on the right path.
“In my last season with St Patricks I helped a bit here and there with James Kreutzberger and got the bug for it and from there was introduced by Sam O’Connor for the youth pathway rep level with Cricket Albury Wodonga Murray which this will be my third year involved,” he said.
He then took on a role as assistant/development coach last season with Lavington alongside head coach Dylan Weeding, which he described as a great experience.
Getting the exposure working with a variety of very talented and experienced players and coaches who have played/coached at the top levels was invaluable according to Thomas. “But I was mainly working with the younger group and trying to help progress them through the grades,” he said.
“We might not have got the results we wanted on the field but I really enjoyed the year with Lavington and it was great to see the younger players coming through, progressing and showing they’re up to the challenge – I wish them all the best this year.”
Beforehand, Thomas played at St. Patrick’s and New City, in a mixture of all grades, A grade mainly in his early years and then a mixture of B and C Grades due to work commitments.
“Before that it was back in England in the County Cornwall with a small village club called Beacon since I was 14 who are in the second tier (County 1) of Cornish Cricket; one season with Redruth in the Premier Division of Cornwall the season before I travelled out to Albury with New City.
“I was also lucky enough to play for Cornwall through the youth representative level from age 10-17.”
A batting allrounder who batted mainly in the middle order – four to six – Thomas bowled both medium pace as opening bowler and off spin in Cornwall, but off spin only in Albury.
In Albury for nearly nine years, he has not taken to the field in the last three years but is a keen student of the game who will be analysing the games closely on the day, providing feedback after the games and assisting the team where required during the breaks.
“A lot of the work will be done before the games during the week with the group, going through our plans and targets so on the game day they have a clear expectation for themselves and allowing them to apply and execute their skills accordingly with freedom,” the coach explained.
“On game days I’ll just be there in the background, getting them prepared and feel comfortable so they’re raring to go. I might suggest something if I see it but I’ll always be there if they need to ask me something but will be backing them in to execute their roles.”
“We’ve done some planning to date and think we’ll look to keep training pretty flexible and diverse to try and keep things fresh. We’ll look to do a combination of game sense, match scenario and technical aspects with the odd bit of theory so we’re not doing the same session week in week out.”
A Project Manager in Commercial Construction for AK Project Solutions (AKPS) in Albury, travelling to coach ricket will not be an issue.
“I’m just keen for cricket to start, catch up with the group and community in the coming weeks and months, and very grateful to everyone who has helped me along the journey to get here,” the Roos’ coach concluded.
“Jack was our first choice,” club president Paul Lavis told The Free Press. “He’s a great student of the game. We need someone off-field to give support to the players. He’s a good communicator. He’ll be fantastic.”
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