LUKE Ryan has announced he is stepping down as Oxfordshire's captain after just under four years in the role.

The 28-year-old broke the news on social media website Twitter this afternoon.

He also revealed he was ending a 12-year spell at Home Counties Premier League side Banbury, for whom he skippered until this year.

Ryan, who was appointed Oxfordshire's youngest captain at the age of 24 in December 2012, told the Oxford Mail in August he would stand for the role again next year.

But the spin bowler, who recently left his role as business manager with the Oxfordshire Cricket Board to become the ECB's head of the south central region, has confirmed he will no longer skipper the side.

Ryan tweeted: "I am stepping down from @Oxoncb captaincy and moving on from @RealBanburyCC - thanks to everyone for their support. Time for a new challenge!"

During his time as captain, Ryan led Oxfordshire to the Unicorns Counties Championship final in 2015 after winning the Western Division.

But they endured a disappointing 2016, winning just two matches in the three-day format and finished second bottom.