Nixon takes Championship captaincy

Paul Nixon's spirit will be vital for Leicestershire in the second half of the summer © Getty Images

Paul Nixon will captain Leicestershire in their remaining County Championship matches this season, taking over from Darren Robinson whose form has been poor in the first half of the summer.

Nixon's first match in charge will be against Glamorgan, starting on Sunday, as the Championship resumes following a two-week break for Twenty20.

"I am delighted to be working with Paul as captain. He has consistently been a high performer on the field and as well as being one of the fittest members of the squad, he is a role model to all," said coach Tim Boon. "His appointment will help us to develop our policy this year of giving the most promising young players at Grace Road a chance to stake a claim for a regular first team place alongside other senior players."

Boon added that the club needed some fresh ideas after a slow start to the season, which has seen them miss out on the Twenty20 quarter-finals due to the wet weather.

"The first half of the season has been indifferent for a number of reasons," he said. "We have had a catalogue of injuries, international call ups including RP Singh to the Indian touring team and latterly the weather

"Despite the adversity in the first half of the season, I have been very encouraged by the way Jeremy Snape has led the one-day team and look forward to the Pro40 in the second half of the season."

Snape will continue to lead the one-day side and Robinson is due for a run in the second XI as he tries to find his form.