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Michael Carberry axed as Leicestershire captain following review

Michael Carberry walks off after being bowled Getty Images

Michael Carberry has been removed as Leicestershire captain with immediate effect following a review by head coach Paul Nixon and will take a small break from the game. Paul Horton has been named as his replacement across all formats.

Carberry was named captain in October having joined the club late in the 2017 campaign but has not lasted half a season in the role despite Leicestershire securing their first Championship win since September 2016 when they beat Glamorgan by three runs earlier this month.

When the announcement was made, a brief statement said there would be no further comment but after the Royal London Cup match against Derbyshire, in which Carberry was absent and Leicestershire lost by five runs, Nixon expanded on the outcome.

"It was a huge decision, the toughest decision of my career but the management team felt Michael was just slightly more reactive than proactive," Nixon said. "Michael is a fantastic man with great integrity and is a massively valued member of this team and we are desperate to get him back. He's going to have a little break, get his head clear and round it, and maybe it was us asking too much of him in the first place.

"But he's taken this club forward already with the things he's done and his attitude and it was a very tough decision to make but we think the right one moving forward."

Carberry has averaged 32.16 in four Championship matches this season.