MELLOR AND WILSHAW ARE PICKED TO BE STAFFS’ NEW CAPTAINS
ALEX Mellor and Peter Wilshaw have been appointed as Staffordshire County Cricket Club’s captains for the 2021 season.
Mellor will take charge of the oneday side, while Wilshaw will lead the three-day team in the Championship format.
Staffordshire didn’t play any competitive cricket last summer because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Sam Kelsall was appointed to the captain’s job at the end of the 2019 season - following Kadeer Ali’s departure because of work commitments - but he resigned without taking charge of a match.
Staffs have already seen this season’s Twenty20 Cup cancelled because of ongoing Covid restrictions, but it is hoped that the 50-over and Championship matches will go ahead as planned.
Leek skipper Mellor, who is also the county’s player-coach, was handed his Staffordshire chance in the 2014 and helped the county to win the Championship title that summer when they defeated Wiltshire in the final at Salisbury.
He marked his home threeday bow with a century against Hertfordshire at Knypersley in 2014 - but it was an innings he played the following season which open the door to the professional stage.
The left-handed wicketkeeperbatsman compiled an unbeaten 208 against Suffolk at Longton, which paved the way for his move to Warwickshire.
He made 26 appearances across the pro formats before being released by the Edgbaston outfit in 2019.
Mellor has continued to play for Staffs, though, and featured in the Knockout Trophy side which lost to Herefordshire in the 2016 final.
The Leek-born player made just one appearance for Staffs in 2019, but it turned out to be in a crucial fixture as victory over Norfolk at Longton secured the Unicorns Eastern Division title.
In total, he has played 14 Championship, 11 50-over and one Twenty20 game for Staffs. He’s scored more than 1,300 runs for the county.
Mellor said: “It’s a privilege to be named as one-day captain. Staffordshire is my home county and it’s a job you would always like to do.
“As a junior I was in and out of the county age-group sides, so that makes it an even bigger honour.
“There have been some great names who have captained the county before, and although my name was probably mentioned as a potential candidate, it’s a nice feeling to be appointed.”
Wilshaw, aged 33, made his Staffordshire debut against Suffolk at Ransomes in 2004.
He has gone on to make 89 Championship appearances for the county, scoring more than 5,500 runs in the long format.
His tally of 14 Championship centuries puts him second in Staffs’ all-time list, five behind county legend Steve Dean.
Wilshaw, who plays his club cricket for Meakins in the North Staffs and South Cheshire League, has also featured in 55 Knockout Trophy games, 16 T20 matches and two List A games.
“I thought the opportunity might have passed with there being no cricket last summer,” said Wilshaw. “So I’m ecstatic to be given the honour.
“Hopefully, I will lead the side in the same way in which I’ve played for the county over the years.
“I want us to be positive representing Staffordshire.”
Mellor will take charge of his first competitive fixture on Sunday, June 13 when Staffs open their Knockout Trophy group campaign against Cumbria at Cockermouth.
Wilshaw’s bow comes the following month at West Bromwich Dartmouth against Lincolnshire in the first Championship game, starting on July 25.
Director of cricket Dave Cartledge said: “Alex has been with Warwickshire, playing for a living, so he’s up to date on what happens in 50-over games.
“We have spoken to Pete before about the captaincy and he’s just missed out, so it was a nice phone call to make this time.
“Splitting the captaincy is something we’ve not done before, so It’s a case of seeing how it goes.
“But at this level I’d like to think that we will have 11 captains out on the pitch.
“Everyone has played a lot of cricket, so it’s a case of them saying their bit and helping the skipper out.”