Tom Smith named Lancashire captain

Lancashire have chosen the captain who must assume the onerous role of replacing Glen Chapple, one of county cricket's most respected figures. Tom Smith, the England Lions allrounder, takes charge in all three formats of the game with Steven Croft appointed as vice-captain.

Chapple who led Lancashire from 2009, will now concentrate on a coaching and playing role with many anticipating that he will call time on his career after one last hurrah - he needs 25 first-class wickets to reach 1000.

Smith, 29, graduated from the county's Academy to make his senior debut for Lancashire in 2005 and was part of their unexpected Championship success in 2011. He was named as Lancashire's Player of the Year in 2014, one of the few stand-out performers as they were relegated from Division One of the Championship, taking 54 wickets and scoring 773 runs as a lower-middle order batsman.

Lancashire's 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 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."