Allenby regains Glamorgan T20 captaincy

Jim Allenby, the Australia-born allrounder, has been restored to Glamorgan's T20 captaincy, a year after losing the position led to him considering his future at the club. Allenby was demoted having performed the role in 2012, with Marcus North named captain of both limited-overs teams, but put the disappointment behind him and signed a four-year contract in August.

With North no longer contracted as Glamorgan's overseas player, Allenby has been repaid for his commitment. Last season, he was the team's outstanding performer in all three formats, helping Glamorgan to their first Lord's final in more than a decade.

Mark Wallace will continue to lead the Championship side, as well as taking the 50-over captaincy, which he stepped up to during the knockout stages of the Yorkshire Bank 40 after North returned to Australia. The announcements are the first since a new management team took charge in Cardiff - with Toby Radford succeeding Mathew Mott as head coach and former England managing director Hugh Morris installed as chief executive - and firm up Glamorgan's plans for the 2014 season.

"I will be delighted to captain Glamorgan in the NatWest T20 Blast this year, it has been my aim to help win trophies and to have the responsibility to contribute to this as captain is very exciting" Allenby said. "I've committed to the club by signing a four-year contract and my ambitions, to win trophies and play at the highest level of the game, have not changed.

"We showed that we are a good team last year and capable of competing with anyone. The club has invested in the squad, the facilities and we have a new management, so there is plenty to be optimistic about. I want to help to bring success back to this club and look forward to working with the playing squad, head coach Toby Radford and the coaching staff, as well as Hugh Morris."

Allenby has indicated his desire to play for England, who he qualifies for on residency, and pushed his case with a series of strong performances in 2013. He was a key component of the side that lost to Notts in the YB40 final, with bat and ball (454 runs at 41.27, 12 wickets at 36.58), led the Friends Life t20 run-scoring and passed 1000 runs in the Championship for the first time.

At 31, he may struggle to convince the England selectors of his value, but Allenby made an impression when appearing for Western Australia against the tourists before the Ashes, scoring a half-century and taking four wickets.

Wallace was appointed club captain in 2012, succeeding Alviro Petersen. Glamorgan finished eighth in Division Two of the Championship last year but there were signs of improvement, as young talent such as Mike Reed and Andrew Salter blended with the experience of Michael Hogan, Murray Goodwin and Allenby. Wallace will also guide the team in the new Royal London Cup, which replaces the YB40.

Wallace said: "2014 is going to be an exciting season for the club as we compete for promotion to Division One of the County Championship and challenge for honours in the reformatted limited-over competitions. I am delighted to continue as captain of this fantastic county and I am looking forward to working in partnership with Hugh Morris as director of cricket and CEO, new head coach Toby Radford, Jim as T20 captain and the rest of the squad.

"We showed last year, particularly in our progress to the Lord's final, that this team has a lot of talent and that we can compete with the best in the country. We need to perform consistently at the same high level in all formats of the game."

Morris, who stepped down as managing director of England cricket in January, has opted for continuity on his return to Glamorgan, where he spent 16 years as a player. "Mark has led by example after taking the role, not least in returning to lead the team to Lord's during the knockout phase of the Yorkshire Bank40 competition last year," he said. "The man is Glamorgan through and through and we are delighted that he will continue his captaincy as we look forward to the exciting challenges that 2014 will bring.

"Jim Allenby has shown his quality for several seasons at Glamorgan and he will give valuable support to Mark in the longer formats of the game, whilst his abilities with both bat and ball allow him to lead from the front in this season's extended NatWest T20 Blast."