By RICHARD WALSH

LEWIS Gregory will captain Somerset in this season’s T20 Blast.

The 25-year-old Plympton and Devon discovery led the team in last season’s T20 Blast quarter-final and the club has taken the decision to award him the captaincy on a permanent basis following the departure of Jim Allenby at the end of last season.

Regarding his appointment Lewis said: “To captain Somerset in the T20 Blast this year will be an absolute honour.

“To have my name on the Captain’s Board alongside some of the great names in the club’s history is a huge privilege.

“I had a little taste of captaincy last year and I’m delighted that I’ll get the chance to lead such a talented squad and try to take our T20 game forward.

“It’s an exciting time for the club and we have the ability in this squad to beat the best and challenge for silverware.”

Lewis made his T20 debut for Somerset at Hampshire in 2011 and since then he has featured in 61 T20 matches, taking 57 wickets with a best of four for 15. He has also scored 613 runs with a top score of 43 and a strike rate of 130.14.

He is hardly a complete novice as skipper having captained England Under-19s in 2011.

Somerset Director of Cricket Andy Hurry said: “Lewis has established himself as a key member of the squad with the bat, the ball and within the dressing room.

“His journey thus far has demonstrated that he has the potential to evolve in to a great leader.

“He epitomises how we want to operate, and he is a natural leader within our group.”