How did Leicestershire bounce back from the bottom to promotion?

The Foxes, through recruitment, hard work and good coaching, have created a side greater than the sum of its parts.

“I think what’s stood out is that it’s been a collective effort,” Rae added.

“There’s nobody from Leicestershire in the top 10 run scorers, but then everyone has made a substantial contribution. Same with the wicket takers, three players have 30 wickets, but nobody has 50.”

“A lot of different things have been put right,” added Holland, who joined from Hampshire last summer. “You could tell the club was on an upward trajectory.

“It’s really come together nicely. There’s a great combination of players with a lot of experience, that really want it, and younger guys coming through. It’s just clicked.”

In the end, the Foxes have stormed to promotion, winning six games this season and losing just once. No other county has done that in either division.

It may have come in anti-climactic fashion on day four against Gloucestershire, with the umpires announcing no more play was possible. Promotion determined by Tannoy rather than bat and ball, but it does not make the achievement any less significant.

From where Leicestershire were, and with fewer resources and a smaller ground than other counties, to achieve promotion is no mean feat.

The Foxes are not done yet, too. They are determined to win Division Two, and get their first four-day silverware since 1998.

“We focus on winning every game of cricket we play,” Thomas added.

“We are turning up to beat Kent next week, we are determined to go and get ourselves a trophy.”

Perhaps the sweetest part of all of this for Leicestershire staff, players, and fans, is that the perennial underdogs of the English game, ‘little old Leicestershire’ as they have ironically referred themselves as in the past, are back in the big time.

“I’m just happy that we have given the fans of Leicestershire the feeling that they will watch Division One cricket last year,” Thomas said.

“We wanted these players to challenge themselves, and be the best version of themselves. It is our jobs to open their minds to how good they can be.

“They have put Leicestershire County Cricket Club back on the map.”