DORCHESTER Cricket Club have appointed James Dunham as first XI captain, while Simon Mitchem was voted in as vice-captain for 2018 during the club’s annual AGM at their Weymouth Avenue headquarters.

Dunham was delighted at this appointment and will be organising a pre-season tour along with the cricket week festival in August.

Dunham, who took 16 wickets for Dorchester in 2017 at an average of 17.13 takes over the captaincy in a move that ends the joint role fulfilled by Dan Belt and Simon Mitchem last season.

Belt had been tasked with on-field leadership, with Mitchem captaining the side behind the scenes.

Elsewhere, Dave Joslin has taken over from David Barrett as president while Pete Diffey will captain the second XI side with level three coaches Sean Fitzgerald and David Trotter continuing as head coaches with ex-Sussex and Hants player Jo Haysom being elected as ladies’ and girls’ coach.

Dorset 50+ and Cerne Valley batsman Jim Ryall has also been appointed groundsman.

The county town side are now in the process of taking over the whole ground as well as the pavilion from the council and anyone wishing to book the ground or the pavilion can email booktherec@gmail.com