Nigel Briers was a predominantly front-foot opening batsman and excellent cover fielder who led Leicestershire with distinction, and helped turn them from being a poor side into one of the leading county teams of the 1990s. In 1971 he was their youngest ever debutant (aged 16 years, 103 days), but spent the next four years establishing employment credentials in teaching and so it was not until the late 1970s that he became a regular. He lost both his form and his confidence in 1984 and 1985, and in 1986 his forearm was so badly broken in a game at Hove that he was almost forced to retire. However, he battled back and in 1990 took over as captain. Despite that and the pressures of it being his benefit year, he scored 1,996 first-class runs, and for six season he transformed the county's fortunes. He stepped down as captain at the end of 1995, signing off with 1000 runs for the 11th time, and intended to play in 1996 but was prevented from doing so by a knee injury. It was no coincidence that the county won the Championship in 1996 and 1998, that success owing much to Briers' time in charge. He is head of PE at Marlborough College.
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