Berkshire County Cricket make changes to their management team

Berkshire County Cricket Club have made a number of changes to their management team with chairman Neil Doody and director of cricket Danny Hall both deciding to stand down.

Former county captain Mark Simmons takes over the chair, while Tom Lambert adds the role of director to his head of performance manager and coaching duties.

Hall will remain on the management team in an advisory capacity, and both he and Doody will continue to attend Berkshire matches.

Over the 13 years that Hall held the post, the county won the Championship four times, the 50-Over Trophy also on four occasions and the T20 Cup. He said: “Director of Cricket was a role that I was honoured and delighted to fulfil. The success which Berkshire has enjoyed over the last few years lies with our exceptional coaching team, headed by Tom Lambert. Their dedication and expertise has developed the skills of so many of our talented young cricketers, many of whom have represented our 1st XI and gone on to first-class cricket.”

Neil became chairman in 2014 and so has also seen outstanding success for the county side.

Explaining his decision to retire, he said: “Although at 80 years of age I do feel fit and well and in excellent spirits, I strongly felt with these advancing years, a younger and capable successor should be appointed. I am delighted that Mark Simmons is appointed as our chairman. He could not be a better or more experienced person to take on the role.”

Simmons captained Berkshire from 1987 to 1995, having had a long association with the county since under 15 level.

He said: “Berkshire cricket has been a massive part of my life. I am delighted to have this opportunity to help oversee the future experiences of our players, whilst striving to build on the recent outstanding record of the senior team. Below the senior teams there is some fantastic development work going on through the Berkshire Cricket Foundation. As well as our age-group squads the Foundation is providing increasing opportunities in the game for hundreds of youngsters across the county.”

Another change in the first-team setup sees Eric Davison take over the team secretary’s role from the long-standing Roy New.

Dan Lincoln has been appointed captain after James Morris and his brother Richard announced their retirements from county cricket.