Gareth Batty: Mark Footitt's Surrey exit is sad but we understand

Moving on: Mark Footitt

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13 July 2017

It was a great shame to learn that Mark Footitt would be leaving the club with immediate effect but we understand why.

This is Footy’s second year with us and he has been bowling well — with 23 Championship wickets at less than 30 apiece — but he wants to return to the East Midlands to be closer to his family and has now signed for Notts. We wish him well and understand that, while he was a key man for us, there are far more important things in life than a bat and ball.

In the meantime, I have been very impressed with how Rory Burns and Jade Dernbach have handled the captaincy during my three games out with injury.

I am hoping to be available for tonight’s T20 game against Middlesex but I cannot speak highly enough of how Rory and Jade have adapted to the role.

After my time as captain has ended, there’s no reason why a split captaincy couldn’t work, with Rory taking charge of four-day and 50-over cricket and Jade running our T20 campaign.

Jade has been in charge for both our T20 matches so far, both of which have ended in thrilling victories. He was already the go-to man for our pace bowlers in terms of plans and field settings towards the end of a T20 innings and is a natural leader.

I have always seen Rory as a future captain — and he showed why in our Championship match against Hampshire. He scored 287 runs and was on the field for all but 33 minutes of it.

Captains have to be able to react to situations — and that is exactly what Rory did when he batted in that innings. Jade and Rory are part of the backbone of the club and I see great potential in both.

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Surrey County Cricket Club

Gareth Batty: Mark Footitt's Surrey exit is sad but we understand

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