Cricket / Gloucestershire Cricket
New red-ball captain at Glos
A batter who captured the hearts of Gloucestershire supporters last season has been appointed as the club new red-ball captain.
Cameron Bancroft, who rejoined Shire in 2024 after a previous stint during the 2016/17 season, has been chosen by coach Mark Alleyne to take on the captaincy for the longer format, following Graeme van Buuren’s decision to step down.
Van Buuren, who had served as Gloucestershire’s red-ball captain since 2022, announced his decision to step down after three seasons where expressed his desire to focus more on the role as a middle-order batsman and left-arm orthodox spinner.
is needed now More than ever
Bancroft will now lead the team in the Rothesay County Championship 2025 which kicks off on April 4 in Derbyshire, before hosting Glamorgan for the first home fixture on April 11.
Since returning to Gloucestershire, Bancroft has delivered exceptional performances across all formats and has become an integral part of Alleyne’s squad.
In the County Championship last season, the West Australian amassed an impressive 832 runs at an average of 48.94, including three centuries.
His white-ball record was equally commendable, particularly in the Vitality Blast T20 tournament, where he played a pivotal role, culminating in a pugnacious half-century in a 112-run opening partnership with Miles Hammond, helping Gloucestershire end their trophy drought.
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Bancroft said: “I’m really looking forward to this summer. It was a real honour when Mark asked me.
“Graeme has led this group fantastically over the years, and he’s built a strong foundation. My role now is to see what I can bring as a leader—building on what he’s already delivered.
“We would have liked to perform better last season, but there were still plenty of positives. If we build on those learnings, we’ll be in a great position for the season ahead.”
The squad is expected to be further strengthened for the County Championship, as Bancroft will be joined by his compatriot and World Cup winner, Cameron Green, for five fixtures.
Green, who has enjoyed a promising start to his Test career as an all-rounder, has accumulated 1,377 runs at an average of 36.23 and 35 wickets at an average of 35.31, with career-best bowling figures of 5/27 in the Boxing Day Test against South Africa in 2022.
Bancroft will now lead Shire in the Rothesay County Championship which kicks off on April 4
Bancroft is no stranger to leadership roles in English county cricket, having captained Durham in both the County Championship and One-Day Cup in 2019.
Alleyne expressed his admiration for Bancroft’s leadership and contribution last season. He said: “Cameron had an impressive year with us in 2024 and led by example in everything he did.
“I love his dedication to preparation and his ability to transfer that into performances on the field. His experience of playing Test match cricket and winning four-day titles gives him a broad base of experience from which our players can benefit.”
All photos: Gloucestershire Cricket
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