Leus du Plooy will take charge of Middlesex in both the County Championship and the Vitality Blast, the club confirmed on Tuesday, continuing a summer of change at Lord’s. The 30-year-old South African-born batter, who moved from Derbyshire at the start of 2024, replaces Toby Roland-Jones in red-ball cricket and Stevie Eskinazi in the T20 side.
Middlesex sit second-bottom of Division Two and have already parted company with head coach Richard Johnson and batting consultant Mark Ramprakash. Against that backdrop, du Plooy’s first assignment as captain arrives on Wednesday, when Hampshire visit Merchant Taylors’ School in the Blast.
“I am extremely proud to have been asked to captain Middlesex in both formats and am very much looking forward to a strong finish to this season and to working with the leadership group ahead of 2026,” du Plooy said. “I’ve been lucky enough to be a part of the Middlesex playing squad since the start of last season and have high hopes for what this talented group of players can achieve.”
Since joining, he has compiled 1,601 runs across formats, often acting as a stabilising presence in a batting order that has lacked consistency. His promotion means Roland-Jones, who has taken 28 Championship wickets at 27.92, steps aside “by mutual consent” after a difficult campaign.
Director of cricket Alan Coleman thanked the outgoing captains for guiding the side through what he called a challenging period, not least because of the club’s well-publicised financial squeeze. Coleman described du Plooy as a key voice in the dressing room and, in his words, a “terrific influence on the young members in our squad.”
“Appointing Leus as captain allows us to build for the long-term, as we look to develop this group of players and continue to build a successful and winning team in all formats,” Coleman added.
Eskinazi has stepped down from T20 duties for personal reasons but remains available as a player. Middlesex hope the continuity of du Plooy leading both Championship and Blast sides will steady results during the season’s closing weeks and provide a clearer pathway into 2026.
The club’s immediate aim is simple: drag themselves off the bottom rungs of Division Two while staying competitive in the short-form game. With a fresh voice at the helm and several home-grown prospects pushing for opportunities, Middlesex believe the shake-up, though abrupt, can still yield short-term gains.
