Middlesex Cricket can today announce that Leus du Plooy will take over the Captaincy of Middlesex’s Rothesay County Championship and Vitality Blast sides with immediate effect, starting with this evening’s Vitality Blast fixture against Hampshire Hawks at Merchant Taylors’ School.
Former T20 Captain Stephen Eskinazi steps down from the role due to personal reasons, whilst former red-ball Captain, Toby Roland-Jones, has stepped down by mutual agreement, allowing du Plooy to take the reins for the final five matches of this season’s County Championship campaign.
Du Plooy joined Middlesex at the start of the 2024 season, having previously played for Derbyshire between 2020 and the end of 2023. In his final year at Derbyshire he led the side as Captain.
Middlesex Cricket’s Director of Cricket, Alan Coleman, said:
“Firstly, I would like to extend my thanks to both Stephen and Toby for the manner in which they have led Middlesex’s Championship and T20 side in recent seasons.
“Both have had to lead sides that have been playing under financial restrictions, while integrating younger players into the teams, and have had to do so with the level of expectation that sits on them as Captains of this great Club. They can both be proud of all they have achieved as Captains of Middlesex.
“They have both been exceptional ambassadors for Middlesex, not only in the way they’ve led from the front, but in the way that they have handled themselves under intense pressure at times.
“In the time that Leus has been in the Middlesex dressing room, he has been a key voice in the senior playing group, has shown himself to be a natural leader at all times, and has been a terrific influence on the young members in our squad.
“Appointing Leus as Captain allows us to build for the long-term, as we look to develop this group of players and continue to build a successful and winning team in all formats.”
Leus du Plooy himself commented:
“I am extremely proud to have been asked to Captain Middlesex in both formats and am very much looking forward to a strong finish to this season and to working with the leadership group ahead of 2026.
“I’ve been lucky enough to be a part of the Middlesex playing squad since the start of last season and have high hopes for what this talented group of players can achieve.
“Toby and Eski are both hugely important figures in the Middlesex dressing room and have given their all for so long, and will no doubt continue to do so as key players.”
