Ian Westwood has led Warwickshire for two season since taking over from Darren Maddy, but his own poor form in 2010 has led to him resigning as captain to focus on regaining his touch with the bat.
You can fully understand his decision, as captain of the side it is vital that you retain your own form, or you begin to question your own worth in the side and wonder if your respect is diminishing in the changing rooms. This was clearly on Westwood's mind last season when he left himself out of some games due to his inability to buy some runs. The most notable being the CB 40 final when Ian Bell led the side, and how, with a magnificient century to bring some silverware to Edgbaston.
It seems the honourable thing to do. He wants to earn his place in the side, not be there because he is the man in charge. There will be added pressure on his position in the side with Will Porterfield and Younis Khan joining the club in an attempt to solve the batting problems of last season. Two potential options for the captaincy, but that will be discussed later.
Director of Cricket, Ashley Giles, tried to talk Westwood out of resigning, but the left-hander had his mind made up. Westwood suggested he wanted to be selfish for once, and I for one don't blame him. Captaincy brings its own immense pressures, you have the responsibility of looking after a squad, and without the confidence in your own game your decision making becomes clouded and your confidence as a captain is negotiated. Even the best players in the world have doubts as skippers when their form deserts them. The problem is you do not find the necessary time for your own game when you are in such a drought, as it's inevitable you put the teams needs ahead of your own.
So was his form that bad to resign as captain ? He wasn't the worst culprit, but that is no good reason to justify your own place in the XI. He averaged 25.92 in the Championship, without a century all season. The senior players, such as Westwood, will have been aware their best two batsmen, Ian Bell and Jon Trott, would be missing for large chunks of the season, so they needed to step forward and find the runs they'd be missing. Of course the fact they didn't is not all Westwood's fault, Jim Troughton, Darren Maddy, Tim Ambrose, all let their skipper down. Westwood for the record finished leading scorer with 726 runs, flattered by the poor performances around him.
In the CB 40 his stats improved, he made 166 runs at 33.20, but his Twenty20 record was poor, averaging 12.87.
So his first mission is to win a place in the side in 2011, but who will he be playing under ? Perhaps part of the reason for Giles being reluctant to accept his resignation is because of so few options to take over. The new signings, Porterfield and Younis Khan both have international leadership experience, but surely for Porterfield his focus should be settling in at Edgbaston and proving his capabilities as an opening batsman before embarking on the road as a County captain. Younis is currently in favour with the PCB, so his availability may be problematic through the summer, a skipper flitting in and out will not do the changing room any good.
Bell and Trott also would be out of the equation on this basis, although I'm sure Bell would do an admirable job.
Rikki Clarke had a nightmare time of it at Derby when he was skipper, so may be scarred by the whole experience. Maddy would be nothing more than a temporary measure, and Troughton should be in the same boat as Westwood and concentrating on his own game and consolidating his spot in the side.
Which leaves Ant Botha, who has a good cricketing brain and with Imran Tahir heading back to Hampshire, he will be the lone spinner and so his selection should be a given, in all formats. He could be the favourite for the job, with the only other alternative being another player brought in from the outside. Jamie Dalrymple recently sacked as captain of Glamorgan could be tempted to resume the role at Warwickshire and would also offer another spin option.
The Warwickshire board insist the new incumbent will be identified and appointed with plenty of time to prepare fully for the 2011 season, he will be the tenth captain in 14 seasons, so if it takes a little time, the Edgbaston faithful won't worry a jot, providing it's the right man.
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