Published: 15th December, 2017

Surrey CCC captain Gareth Batty has stood down from his position and will be replaced by vice-captain Rory Burns, who will become Club Captain and lead the side in County Championship and Royal London One Day Cup cricket.

Experienced pace bowler Jade Dernbach will become the Surrey captain in T20 cricket.

Batty, 40, has led Surrey for the past three seasons, winning the Specsavers County Championship Division Two title in his first year in charge as well as leading the Club to three successive Lord’s finals in the Royal London One Day Cup. Although stepping down as captain, he will remain a member of the Surrey squad for the 2018 season.

Burns, 27, is a graduate of the Surrey system and has been vice-captain of the Club since 2015. Over the course of this period, he has hit over 1,000 County Championship runs in three consecutive seasons.

As well as becoming the 41st Surrey CCC captain in the Club’s 172 year history, Burns has agreed a new four year contract at the Kia Oval, committing his future to Surrey until at least 2021.

Dernbach, who led the Club twice in this year’s NatWest T20 Blast and has played for the Club since the age of 15, becomes the Club’s first ever T20 exclusive captain.

After first donning Surrey colours for the U9s, Burns made his first-class debut for the Club in 2011 against Cambridge MCCU, following this with a Championship debut against Sussex at the Kia Oval the following year.

After earning an initial Surrey contract in 2011 he has never looked back, being named the LV= Breakthrough Player of the Season in 2013 and securing his spot at the top of the Surrey order.

Since being made vice-captain, he has only missed two Championship games, after suffering a facial injury in a freak on field collision against Sussex at Arundel in 2015.

Against Hampshire at the Kia Oval last year, Burns – captaining Surrey in the absence of Batty – was on the field for all but 30 minutes of the entire game, fielding for a day and a half before then batting unbeaten for over ten hours to hit 219 in the first innings and continuing for a further two and half in the second as Surrey secured the draw.

Speaking this week, Rory Burns said: “Firstly I would like to congratulate Batts on the way he has captained the Club over the last few years. He has given his absolute all to the captaincy leaving the Club and playing group in very good shape.

“I’d also like to thank Batts for giving me the opportunity to be his vice-captain, encouraging me to not only develop as a player but also to develop as a leader.

“Naturally, I’m absolutely delighted to have been offered the opportunity to become Club Captain. Surrey is a Club I have been associated with from the age of 8 so I feel honoured and humbled to be in a position to lead it forward.

“The team is in very good shape, we have an incredibly talented group and I’m looking forward to building upon that in the upcoming season and relishing the challenges that lie ahead.”

Alec Stewart, Surrey CCC Director of Cricket, said: “Gareth has been an outstanding leader and I have the upmost respect for him in all he done as our captain and the way he has shouldered so much responsibility over the last few years.

“His decision to stand down underlines his commitment, understanding and appreciation that the Club should always come first. He recognised that now is the time to hand over the reins to Rory and he will still have a major role to play in the team, in the future.

“I look forward to seeing some really big performances from him in all formats of the game. Captaincy can be a tough job and Batts should be congratulated and thanked for all the work he has done and the way he has led the team on and off the field.

“Rory has been earmarked as a potential captain for a length of time and I’m very confident now is the right moment for him to takeover. He will grow into the role while understanding the extra responsibility and workload that comes with leadership. It is a massive honour and I know how proud Rory is to take over.

“He will receive all the support he requires and I have every confidence that it will also enhance his own game. We saw him stand up and perform against Hampshire last season with his undefeated 219 when he captained the side in Gareth’s absence, and I’m sure he will play many more ‘captains innings’ during his time in charge.

“Jade has always been a leader without a title in our dressing room and out on the field – appointing him as the Club’s first ever T20 captain is a natural progression in his career.

“As a white ball specialist, he knows T20 cricket inside out and his vast experience will give him confidence in this new role. As an Academy graduate and a Surrey man through and through he understands the importance and privilege of leading out a Surrey side.”

Dernbach added: “I would like to say what a huge honour and a privilege it is to be asked to be T20 captain of this great Club. Thank you to all coaches and management for putting their trust in me and I look forward to an exciting and prosperous time ahead with a hugely talented squad.

“I would also like to say a massive thank you to Gareth Batty for the amazing job he has done and everything he has taught me along the way.

“This is truly a dream come true for a Surrey boy through and through.”

Gareth Batty concluded: “It has been a great honour to have served the Club as captain. The timing is perfect for Rory and Jade to take over and I couldn’t think of two better men to be leading the Club forward. I’m very excited for the future of the Club.“