WARWICKSHIRE County Cricket Club have named Alex Davies as the club’s new captain.
Davies, who signed from Lancashire in 2021, replaces Will Rhodes who stepped down from the role at the end of last season after four years at the helm.
The 29-year-old, who has a wealth of experience with almost 300 senior matches across all formats, guided the Bears to 10 wins from 10 in last season’s Vitality Blast having stepped up from vice captain.
Davies, who becomes Warwickshire’s 37th captain, has also signed a new contract which will see him stay at Edgbaston until at least the end of the 2026 season.
Davies said: “My overriding feeling is pride, it’s an honour captaining any club at any level, but to captain a club as big as Warwickshire is a huge privilege.
“Edgbaston has become home to me. I won’t be leaving anything out there on the pitch, I’ll give it my all.
“Taking the T20 reins last year has helped prepare me for the role, to really get to know the lads, their different characters and how they like to be dealt with on and off the field. That experience should stand me in good stead.
“I feel lucky captaining such a talented group of players; it’s an exciting time to take over. We were in the hunt for the County Championship for much of last summer and we dominated groups in both white ball competitions.
“I want to keep that momentum going. I truly believe this squad has the potential to create a winning legacy at Warwickshire.
“It was an emotional moment for me when the news was announced to the boys. Lots of handshakes and hugs, a few guys who are abroad jumped on Zoom to be part of it and pass on their best wishes which was nice.”
Davies, who hit his Bears best of 118 in last season’s opener at Somerset and is now close to 6,000 First Class runs, thanked predecessor Rhodes who he said was a huge influence in his decision to move to Edgbaston.
Davies added: “He’s led Warwickshire brilliantly and left the team in better place than he found it. It’s thanks to him we’re in a very good place and I feel lucky to be taking over at this time.
“I’m sure I’ll do certain things my way but not a lot needs changing. That’s credit to Will. We’re similar characters and get along well. No doubt he’ll be a big help to me moving forward.
“There are lots of guys in the side with huge experience who will be a great asset. I feel the side could almost captain itself, you could give it to any one of the guys and they’d do a good job.
“Plus there are lots of former captains, leaders, around the club that I’ll be able to lean on, including Ian Westwood, and past greats like Dennis Amiss who’s regularly here watching and popping into the dressing room.
“My thoughts now turn to the pre-season tour to Abu Dhabi, how I want that to look, and then we’ll all look forward to the start of the season against Worcestershire. I can’t wait.”
A decision on the T20 captaincy will take place once Moeen Ali finalises his Indian Premier League and England commitments.
Warwickshire’s Performance Director Gavin Larsen, who made almost 130 international appearances for New Zealand during the 1990s, said Davies was a strong candidate for the captaincy.
Larsen said: “I’m delighted that Al accepted the captaincy role. We’ve had a good preview of how he operates after he captained for most of the T20 last year.
“Al was successful, popular with players, communicated superbly, and worked collaboratively with the coaches.
“Al was always a strong candidate for captain given his vice captain experience last year. He certainly displayed all the right attributes to take over should the opportunity arise.
“The captain, ultimately, will only be as good as his team. What a good captain can do is bring out the best in his players and Al demonstrated that last summer in the Blast.
“He’s a people person, and will now be plotting how he can help to take this great club forward.”
