Lancashire have appointed Tom Smith as captain, with Glen Chapple stepping down to concentrate on a player-coach role.
Steven Croft will serve as all-rounder Smith’s vice-captain at Emirates Old Trafford.
It's a huge honour to be named captain of @LancsCCC I would like to thank everyone for their kind messages of support. Can't wait for next..
— Tom smith (@Tcp24) February 11, 2015
Season to start. Congrats to @Stevenjcroft on v/c. Such a proud day and once again would like to thank everyone for their support #redrose
— Tom smith (@Tcp24) February 11, 2015
The 29-year-old Smith, who hails from Chorley, has spent his entire career with the Red Rose county after coming through the academy, and was named the club’s player of the year in 2014 following an impressive campaign which saw him take 54 LV= County Championship wickets and score 773 runs.
Smith was part of Lancashire’s championship-winning squad in 2011, and that summer became the first Lancashire player to make a century and claim four wickets in a limited-overs game when he hit 117 before returning 4-48 against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge.
Lancashire’s cricket director and head coach Ashley Giles said: “Tom has all the right ingredients of a good leader: he is well-respected, he plays all forms of the game, is a good professional, extremely mature and a good communicator.
“He is a guy who has come through the Lancashire system and knows exactly what it means to play for such a great county.
“The same can also be said of our new vice-captain, Steven Croft, who is another exceptional individual.
“Glen [Chapple] has done a fantastic job; he has moved into coaching and this is now an opportunity for the next generation of leaders. I believe the future of the club is in good hands.”
Smith added: “It is a tremendous honour for me to be appointed captain of the county I grew up supporting and have been lucky enough to play for.
“The Red Rose means so much to me, as it does to all our members and supporters, and I can assure everybody that I will lead our county to the best of my ability at all times.
“With the appointment of Ashley as cricket director and head coach it is an exciting new era for Lancashire cricket and one which we are all looking forward to.
“There have been some great captains of this club over the years, none more so than Glen Chapple who I have learnt a great deal from over the years, not just as a cricketer but also as a leader.
“I cannot wait to get started as captain and I would like to thank the club for putting their faith in me for this very important and responsible role.”