Alex Gidman Steps Down As Club Captain
18 September 2012
Gloucestershire County Cricket Club today announced that Alex Gidman is stepping down after four years as club captain.
Alex also filled in the role on numerous occasions during the previous three years as vice-captain when skipper Jon Lewis was away with England, so he has served the club in this vital capacity over seven seasons.
He now wants more time to concentrate on his own game and will remain a key member of the playing squad as a senior batsman.
Alex said: “I am very proud of the contribution I have been able to make as Gloucestershire captain. But I have not enjoyed the role as much this season and feel the time is right for someone else to take over.
“My intention now is to spend the time I was taking up with captaincy issues on improving my own game. My plan for this winter is to devote more hours to practice and fitness work than I have ever done. Hopefully that will result in lots of runs for the team next summer.”
Gloucestershire Chief Executive, Tom Richardson, said: “We are very grateful to Alex for the commitment, loyalty and dedication he has shown as our captain, first as an able deputy to Jon Lewis, and then as our appointed skipper.
“The question arises about how to replace him as captain. We know we need to recruit an overseas signing for next season and one option we shall certainly explore is bringing that player in as our new skipper.”
The club’s Director of Cricket, John Bracewell, added: “Alex has faced a particularly tough period as captain trying to deliver success with a young and developing squad.
“With all the extra demands on him, he has not been able to spend the time he wants to on his own game. He still has a stack of runs left in him as a player and I’m sure will benefit from being free of the worries captaincy brings.”
