Ruislip & Eastcote & Northwood Gazette
MALAN STEPS DOWN AS CAPTAIN OF MIDDLESEX
MALAN STEPS DOWN AFTER FAILURE TO WIN PROMOTION
DAWID MALAN said “it was an honour” to captain Middlesex CCC after stepping down following the club’s failure to win promotion to the first division of the county championship.
The 32-year-old, who captained the club across all three formats from February 2018, has relinquished his role and said in a statement: “Middlesex played some fantastic cricket during the 2019 season, reaching the knockout stages of both white-ball competitions – achievements of which we can be proud.
“However, our form in the second division of the Championship was inconsistent and it was extremely disappointing to miss out on promotion.
“I have therefore decided to allow someone else the opportunity to work with the coaching staff to readjust and hopefully guide the team back towards the top of the first division.
“It has been an honour to captain Middlesex in recent seasons, and I would like to thank everyone associated with the club for their support.”
On Malan’s decision to step down, Angus Fraser, Middlesex’s managing director of cricket, said: “Dawid has thrown his heart and soul into the role of club captain for the past two years.
“On behalf of Middlesex Cricket, I would like to thank him for that.
“He has also shown great pride and dignity in the way he has handled a difficult season and he leaves the role knowing he has given it all he can. As a batsman the captaincy seems to have got the best out of him and he has had an excellent season. He has been our best player in testing batting conditions.
“That things have not worked out as we hoped is disappointing for everyone involved and we must take the responsibility for that.
“Personally, I would like to thank Dawid for his commitment to the role and his desire to take the club forward.
“We must now turn our attention to finding a suitable replacement.”
Meanwhile, Miguel Cummins, the Barbados-born pace bowler, has signed a long-term contract with Middlesex until the end of the 2022 season.
Cummins, 29, joined Middlesex for the final three County Championship matches of this season and following this brief spell with the club, in which he picked up 8 firstclass wickets, has committed the next three years of his career to the club.
Nathan Sowter has also put pen to paper, on a contract extension until at least the end of the 2021 season.
Since making his debut in 2015, English qualified leg-spinner Sowter has made 80 appearances for the club in all formats and has taken 97 wickets.
The club also announced that two players will be leaving the club, as off-spinner Ollie Rayner’s and leftarm quick Tom Barber’s contracts will not be renewed.