FBROTHER_RESIGNS_LANCS_CAP_07OCT93

I just caught the very end of the local news last night, and in the summary they said that Neil Fairbrother had resigned as captain of Lancashire CC. Because I missed the main item, I have no idea why this is, if he's going to stay on at the club, or who's taking over (I would imagine the sensible money's on Atherton). Thanks to Bernard Hunt on r.s.c.

He gave his reason for resigning as a personal loss of form, which he attributes to the responsibility of captaincy. He hope to regain that form by relinquishing the captaincy. He is staying with Lancashire. Mike Watkinson has been appointed the new county captain. Atherton was never in the running, as it was felt that captaining both Lancashire and England would be too much responsibility. Thanks to James Cameron on r.s.c.

Watkinson will be taking over, although Fairbrother will stay on at the club. I don't think Atherton wanted the job, is I remember correctly. Thanks to Julian Jones on r.s.c.

There are precedents for non-county captains as England captain, some have worked, some not. The most recent non-county captain to lead England was Ian Botham, we all know what happened there :-( Botham did go on to captain Somerset later on though. Back in the 50's Peter May was made England captain after Hutton (another non-county England captain although for different reasons than May) retired when Stuart Surridge was captain of Surrey. May took over as Surrey captain when Surridge retired. Thanks to A.M.T. Bell on r.s.c.