Tom Smith delighted by Lancashire Lightning captaincy role

Tom Smith has admitted that captaining Lancashire Lightning is a dream come true, having been handed the role by head coach Ashley Giles.

The 29-year-old all-rounder, who has not previously skippered a side at senior level, was named as the surprise replacement to take over the role from Glen Chapple.

"It is a dream to captain Lancashire," the Manchester Evening News quotes him as saying. "It is a massive club, it is the club I grew up watching as a kid.

"My idols have all played here and now to walk out onto the pitch as the club captain, it is a moment every Lancashire lad dreams of. I still can't stop smiling, I just can't wait now to get started and I hope Ashley and I can now start a period of success for Lancashire."

Smith was last year named as Lancashire's Player of the Year, which earned him a call-up to the England Lions squad.