Adam steps down as first team captain of S&B club
ADAM Phillips has resigned the first-team captaincy of Southport and Birkdale Cricket Club, citing family and work commitments and stressing that his decision has nothing to do with any cricketing issues at the club.
Phillips steps down after a year in which his leadership was characterised by quiet dignity, an appetite for hard work and undoubted enjoyment of his tasks, even when they had to be carried out in circumstances no one could have foreseen. However, like many professional cricketers, he has always made it clear that his family comes first in his life and it is this consideration that has primarily prompted his difficult choice.
“I want to emphasise very clearly that my decision is not cricket related,” he said.
“I’ve loved every minute of being captain and particularly so when I saw the younger players progress. The problem is that the Coronavirus pandemic has messed my life up in a number of ways, both professional and personal, and I now need to give those matters the greatest attention.”
Phillips steps down after a year in which competitive cricket did not get under way until August 1.
“However his impact on the game at Trafalgar Road has been considerable and he holds the club in the highest regard.
“Being captain at S&B doesn’t only involve playing on a Saturday,” he pointed out. “There are the two nights of training to consider and the meetings through the week in addition. Just at the moment I simply don’t have the time to put in the requisite commitment.
“Skippering S&B is the best role in local cricket but I would feel guilty doing the job in those circumstances. It wouldn’t be fair on a whole range of people and I think the club would be better off appointing a captain who has the time to devote to the job.”
Phillips hopes to be available to play cricket next season but that, rather like the majority of things in most people’s lives at the moment, is dependent on Covid-19.
“It’s been a very difficult season but Adam has been outstanding,” said S&BCC chairman, Andrew Carney.
“He’s taken on all the challenges and done a great job both on and off the field.
“I can’t help but reflect on his attempts to save a man’s life at Ainsdale, where he showed great leadership and exemplary courage.
“But I also have nothing but high praise for the way he’s gone about moving the cricket section forward.”
Phillips’s successor will be elected at the club’s AGM, which is being held on Zoom a week on Monday.