Alex Lees Appointed Durham Captain Across All Formats

Alex Lees, who has recorded 16 first-class centuries for Durham, will assume the role of Durham captain across all formats for the 2025 county season, following the signing of a new three-year contract with the club. Lees takes over from Scott Borthwick as the County Championship skipper, as Borthwick has transitioned into a player-coach position. The 31-year-old opening batsman already held the captaincy for Durham’s T20 Blast and One-Day squads. “The move to the north east has been a good one for me, so to now be given the opportunity to captain Durham is a privilege and an honour,” Lees stated on the club’s website. Lees began his career at his home county, Yorkshire, where he secured the Championship title in 2014 and 2015, before relocating north during the 2018 season. His performance for Durham was strong enough to merit a Test call-up, leading to his England debut in March 2022. He participated in 10 Tests throughout that year, achieving a top score of 67, prior to his return to county cricket. Nevertheless, his career has thrived since then. In 2023, he amassed over 1,300 runs and struck five centuries, contributing to Durham’s victory in the Second Division and subsequent promotion, with Lees being recognized as the County Championship Player of the Season. Last summer, he scored 921 runs and an additional four hundreds as the county solidified its position in the top tier. Beyond his ongoing role as an opening batsman and run-scorer, Lees is now charged with enhancing the team’s performance, aiming to surpass last season’s fifth-place finish. “This opportunity to captain Durham gives me a chance to put some real focus into the red-ball team, building on the foundations that we have built over the last few years,” he commented. He added, “Scott did a fantastic job over the last four seasons and I think getting promoted back to Division One is huge credit to him.” Lees further stated, “Now is about building on the good stuff we have done over the last few years and taking it forward giving us that extra 10% to go on and challenge for trophies.” Lees’s final appearance in his 10 England Tests was against South Africa in September 2022. According to Marcus North, Durham’s director of cricket, Lees was the clear choice to succeed Borthwick as the red-ball captain. North remarked, “Alex’s dedication, passion and ambitions for the club has been evident since his arrival in 2018. He is a popular and respected figure in the squad who leads with tenacity.” He further explained, “Alex has established a strong connection with (coach) Ryan Campbell during his time as white-ball captain making him the perfect person to lead Durham in the County Championship.”