Wicketkeeper-batter Ben Cox is to continue as Worcestershire Rapids’ official vice-captain for the 2022 Vitality Blast.
The 30-year-old also held the role for last summer’s T20 competition and will again step up to become captain when England all-rounder Moeen Ali is unavailable.
Cox led the Rapids on nine occasions last season when they came so close to qualifying from the North Group for the quarter-finals.
Worcestershire Head Coach, Alex Gidman, said: “Ben (Cox) will continue to be the vice-captain for the T20 campaign. Mo is still the T20 captain, and it is an opportunity for Ben to continue the work he did last year.
“He will step in when Mo is not available. Ben did really well last year. By his own admittance, he learnt a lot very quickly and was very keen to have another opportunity.
“It is really good as well for Brett D’Oliveira (Club Captain) to have a bit of a mental break and let Ben take over the reins when Mo is not available and splitting that role.
“It should work out really well for everyone.”
Cox said: “I learnt from last year’s experience and will look forward to leading the side if and when Mo isn’t available. It will again be a great honour.
“Wicket-keeping isn’t far off captaincy anyway in terms of the aspect of field placings.
“You see your angles and work out plans. There’s not much difference there.
“We’ve got four tough games to start, all away from home, and no doubt it is going to be a challenge.
“But T20, we know what the game is; we’ve just got to go and flip from four-day mode to T20 mode as fast as possible.
“All the batters are in form, and it’s just a case of expressing yourself and scoring quickly.
“It is about staying in the present, turning up on the day and just trying to put in the best performance possible as a group.
“I want to score as many runs for the team and, when called upon, captain the side as well as I can. That’s the ultimate goal, and just try and win as many games as possible.”
