Callum Parkinson Appointed Four-Day Captain

Leicestershire County Cricket Club can today (Wednesday, 18 May) announce Callum Parkinson has been appointed as County Championship captain for the remainder of the season.

The decision forms part of a captaincy restructure, which will see Parkinson step up from vice-captain to lead the four-day side, while Lewis Hill and Colin Ackermann will remain as 50-Over and T20 skippers respectively.

The 25-year-old will assume the role with immediate effect, taking over from Ackermann, who has led the red-ball team since 2020, following his appointment as T20 captain in 2018.

Parkinson has become an integral part of the Running Foxes’ County Championship setup in recent seasons, finishing as the Club’s leading wicket-taker in 2021 with 50 wickets, a year which saw him rank as the highest-performing English spinner.

Such form has followed into the early part of the 2022 campaign, with 12 wickets and 245 runs at an average of 35 to his name, as the Bolton-born spinner continues to strive for all-rounder status.

The newly named captain epitomised his indomitable spirit in the Club’s most recent fixture versus Sussex, with a game-saving three-hour stay at the crease helping the Running Foxes to salvage a final day draw.

It was a match which also saw Parkinson register notable landmarks while representing the Club, tallying both his 1,000^th first-class run and his 100^th first-class wicket for Leicestershire on day two.

Parkinson already possess first-class captaincy experience for the Club, having led the team on five previous occasions in red-ball cricket, most recently away at Glamorgan earlier this month.

After being appointed as County Championship captain, Callum Parkinson said: “It is a huge honour to be appointed four-day captain and I’m incredibly grateful to the Club for placing that faith in me.
“I have learned so much from Colin (Ackermann) during my time as vice-captain. I will continue to lean on him for advice, whilst implementing my own ideas and direction to win matches for Leicestershire.
“Personally, I feel I have matured massively over recent seasons and developed into a player that can help guide the Club to success.”

Discussing the captaincy restructure, LCCC Director of Cricket, Claude Henderson, said: “Firstly, we want to thank Ackers (Colin Ackermann) for leading the team with great pride and honour throughout his time as four-day captain.

“He did a fantastic job and will continue to be a massive player for Leicestershire moving forward, where he will remain as our T20 captain.

“We have decided that now is the right time for a change and recognised Callum’s qualities (Parkinson) are ideally suited to leading the team in four-day cricket for the remainder of the season.

“Callum has been an inspiring voice in the changing room, and he commands huge respect through the way he approaches his cricket. We have full belief that he is the right man to take up the role.”

Parkinson’s first match as official County Championship Club captain will be the trip to New Road, as Leicestershire take on Worcestershire (Thursday, 19 May).