SOMERSET'S leading fast bowler Alfonso Thomas headed off to the sun of southern Spain this week to continue his road to recovery after sustaining a broken ankle in the autumn.

The 38-year-old, who last season topped the Somerset bowling averages in the LV=Championship with 53 wickets at 24.77, which included setting a new County record of four wickets in four balls said: “I think we are pretty much on course and where we want to be at this stage.

“On Monday I had a bowl at about 80% full pace in the Indoor School which went really well.”

Thomas flew out to join up with the Tom Maynard Academy where he will get the chance to bowl outside for three days.

“I will be doing some bowling and also doing some coaching – I will probably bowl against Baz (Alex Barrow) who is out there which I am looking forward to.”

Thomas is one of a number of Somerset players who recently gained their ECB Level 2 Coaching Award, so the chance to be helping out on the Tom Maynard Academy is ideal for him.

“Coaching is something that I would like to go into in years to come and this is a great chance for me to give something back to the game. This is a first stepping stone and will be a very interesting experience as well.”

Thomas flies back home at the weekend and will be returning to Desert Springs in Spain with the rest of the Somerset squad when they go out for a training camp later on next week.

Somerset’s Josh Davey has continued to cause a stir out at the ICC World Cup where he is playing for his native Scotland.

Playing against England on Monday morning the 24-year-old claimed 4-68 from his ten overs, but it wasn’t enough to see his side to victory.

Tom Abell and Jack Leach will also be using the time in Desert Springs to help them in their recovery from injury.

Abell explained: “I took a blow to my right index finger during training and had a small operation to repair it. However things have gone really well and the surgeon was very happy.

“I and now getting my movement back and will be starting with some soft ball work out in Spain and will go on from there.”

Left arm spinner Leach said: “I have done a lot of work on my bowling but we have discovered I have got an issue with my shins which is called chronic exertional compartment syndrome.

“This has been going on for a couple of years now and it has got worse so now we are sorting it out which is great and will massively help me especially when I’m bowling long spells. “