LUKE Ryan has become Oxfordshire’s youngest cricket captain after taking over from Ian Hawtin.

The 24-year-old Banbury left-arm spinner made his Oxon first-team debut at 17.

Ryan said: “I’ve always had aspirations to be county captain at some stage and, following Ian’s retirement, hoped I would be considered for the job,” said Ryan.

“I was pleasantly surprised, but also very honoured to be offered the captaincy.

“It was something that I accepted straight away, It’s not an opportunity I was going to let pass by.”

Ryan is head of cricket and a PE teacher at Cokethorpe School, who have allowed him time off to lead Oxfordshire.

Cokethorpe’s head master Damian Ettinger said: “I am immensely proud of Luke on his appointment as captain of Oxfordshire.

“It is always gratifying when members of the Cokethorpe community achieve such successes and with Luke both a former pupil and a current member of staff this makes his achievement all the more pleasing.


“I saw Luke’s passion for cricket grow whilst his headmaster for four years, culminating in him being awarded captain of cricket in 2006, and it is good to see that this enthusiasm and propensity for leadership has continued.''