Robbie Eason has sprung a surprise by resigning as Horspath captain.

The former Oxfordshire batsman led the club to the Cherwell League Division 1 title last season and promotion to the Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League.

But he has found runs hard to come by this term, and with the death of team manager Jonathan Stobart earlier this year, putting an added weight on his shoulders he has decided to step down.

All-rounder Adam Krol, a former captain of Thame Town, takes over as skipper for the rest of the season.

Eason said: “I have been doing it for three and a half years and it was always my intention to step down at the end of the season.

“But I have been hampered by not scoring as many runs as I would like and the added responsibility of being skipper, and the untimely death of Jonathan has been a weight on my shoulders.

“Hopefully by taking the extra weight off myself I can concentrate on batting and getting the runs to help us stay in the league.”

Krol said: “Firstly credit to Robbie for everything he has done and certainly before I joined the club, and while I have been there, he has been a massive part in getting the club into the Home Counties.

“On a personal note I am really excited about it. It is only my third season at the club and I feel like I have been there forever. It makes it a massive honour to be captain of such a club.”