Wednesday 28 September 2016 13:07, UK
Daryl Mitchell admits he has been left "deeply hurt" after being sacked as Worcestershire captain after six years in charge of the team.
Mitchell will make way for Joe Leach, who finished the season as the country's leading wicket-taker in Division Two of the County Championship with 65 wickets while hitting almost 600 runs.
Director of cricket Steve Rhodes said the change has been made to enable a "fresh start", but in an open letter published on Twitter, Mitchell expressed his disappointment at the decision.
"Being sacked from my role as captain came as devastating news," wrote Mitchell, who passed 10,000 first-class runs last month. "This is certainly the most difficult thing I've had to deal with in my professional career. I am bitterly disappointed and left deeply hurt by the decision.
"2016 has been a difficult year for me with a lot on my plate off the field, poor form with the bat in the early part of the season and if I'm honest I haven't been at my best as captain in certain parts of the year.
"However I did feel things had turned the corner, I finished the season well and after a freshen up over the winter I was looking forward to leading the team in competing for trophies in 2017. Unfortunately this was not to be."
Mitchell twice led Worcestershire to County Championship promotion - and to third place in Division Two in the 2016 season, which finished last week.
"One thing I certainly am not is a quitter. Although I disagree with the decision, I do fully respect it and know it has been made with the best intentions for Worcestershire moving forward. Sometimes you just have to take things on the chin and move on."
Rhodes said: "I have enjoyed working with Mitch for six years in the captain-coach relationship.
"We have gone through lots of ups and downs, but I felt the team going forward needed a fresh start and input from a different source regarding the captaincy.
"I hope Daryl can continue to play a key role as one of our most accomplished and experienced batsmen."
Leach, 25, said: "It is a great honour to be made captain and a great opportunity to take on a young improving squad.
"I hope we will go from strength to strength as a squad over the next few years.
"I would like to pay tribute to Daryl who has done a fantastic job, got us two promotions and to (NatWest T20 Blast) quarter-finals, and I look forward to working with him as a senior player."
