Hutton appointed Middlesex captain

Middlesex have appointed Ben Hutton as their captain, ending weeks of speculation over who would replace Andrew Strauss.

Strauss's elevation to the status of England regular over the summer led to Middlesex needing to find a full-time replacement. Owais Shah, Strauss's vice-captain at the start of the season, was removed in June after a string of much-criticised performances and replaced by Ed Joyce.

Joyce subsequently decided that he wanted to concentrate on his batting, leaving the void. Several players from other counties were linked with the vacancy, the most recent being Kent's Ed Smith.

Hutton, 27, has a fine cricket pedigree: his grandfather, Len, was one of England's greatest batsmen, and his father Richard also played for England. His career has run in remarkable parallel to Strauss's: they were both born in Johannesburg, were both educated at Radley College and Durham University, where they opened the batting together before both joining Middlesex.

Hutton told Middlesex's website that he was "excited rather than daunted by the prospect of the captaincy."