http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Dale-Benkenstein-c1302 and Phil Mustard will share captaincy role for Durham next season
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Durham-c782 County Cricket Club has announced today that Dale Benkenstein and Phil Mustard will share the captaincy role of the county during 2011-12 county season in a bid to reinstate the pride and passion of the former county champions and put the side back
on the winning track.
The 36 year old former South African player, Benkenstein, will lead the club during limited-over matches - One Day and T20s, while Mustard will continue his role as Durham CCC’s skipper in the four-day format.
Mustard was appointed as the club’s captain last season after http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Will-Smith-c2794 gave up the role in the midst of a disappointing 2010 campaign. The appointments were confirmed by the Durham officials on Wednesday.
Geoff Cook, the director of cricket of Durham, was hopeful that the move will help the side bring silverware back to the Emirates Durham ICG. The recently concluded county season was the club’s first barren season since 2006. It was under Benkenstein’s leadership
that the club clinched the county championship title for the first time in 2008.
Cook admired http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Phil-Mustard-c2183’s efforts for the club during last season saying: “Phil stepped up for us at a difficult time last season and did an outstanding job, especially in the LV= County Championship”.
The 28 year old wicketkeeper batsman Phil Mustard had a huge responsibility on his shoulders during last season’s One Day and T20 matches as he was captaining, opening the innings and also standing behind the stumps when it came to fielding. The club management,
admitting it is challenging to do each role effectively, decided to release him from the burden of captaining the side.
“To give Phil some respite Dale will take on the responsibilities for limited overs cricket which will allow Phil to continue to learn and give the side a new emphasis. The team is determined to show an improved performance in one day-cricket”.
Mustard, who has international experience of 12 matches, was confident he would benefit from the split roles and the experience of Benkenstein.
“The Durham captaincy means a lot to me, I really enjoy leading the side and I want to do it for years to come”, Mustard said. “This set-up will give me the opportunity to learn from Dale and develop my skills in the limited over format, which can only benefit
me, the team and the club in the long run”.
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