By CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

THORVERTON have started the search for a new 1st XI captain following Andy Pitt’s decision to stand down after four years in the job.

Pitt was appointed in 2017 and his first task was to stabilise a side that had used three captains in the previous season – Graham White, David Baldock and Paul Fielder all had a go – and were relieved to stay up

Pitt’s first season in charge was another battle to stay up, but in 2018 they steered clear of trouble an in 2019 were involved in the promotion scrap right up the final day. They finished third.

Pitt and the Thorverton squad had hoped to challenge for promotion in 2020, but Covid-19 put paid to that idea.

Thors, who strengthened their squad during the last close season, will be bracketed among the teams to challenge in 2021, if a full programme of fixtures is possible. But someone else will be leading them.

Said Pitt: “I'm going to miss a lot of cricket next summer due to a lot of weddings – plus my own – so I thought it was the best decision for the club.”

Pitt said he hoped he had ‘left the team in a better place’ than when he started with the next generation of players turning into match winners.

“Some of the younger who have come into the side in recent years have made real contributions,” said Pitt.

Pitt has no silverware to look back on from his four seasons at the helm, but does have some ‘memorable games’ in his scrapbook.

“Seaton at home in 2018 was memorable when our last pair of Adrian Gray and Jacob Boom won it for us by one wicket off the last ball of the game,” said Pitt.

“A couple of weeks later we won at Shobrooke Park in another game that really stands out for me.

“They bowled us out for 135, but we bowled them out for 107 with Jacob Broom taking five wickets.”

Pitt declined to speculate on who would replace him in 2021, although there is one obvious contender. Jake Choules deputised when Pitt was tied up due to work commitments in 2020 and is likely to put his name forward as captain.