Neil Megson is to step down as Banbury skipper at the end of the current Home Counties Premier League campaign.

Neil MegsonThe 37-year-old wicket-keeper led the north Oxfordshire side to the inaugural Division 1 title last season. A successor has not been named.

Banbury host High Wyc- ombe tomorrow in a game that is likely to decide the destiny of the runners-up spot behind champions Finchampstead.

And Megson has anticipated his imminent departure as captain by dropping himself to the second team.

"The time is right to go," said Megson. "I feel I can still do a job for the first team as a keeper, but I don't want to hang around and stand in the way of the youngsters."

Eighteen-year-old Tim Smith, who made his Oxfordshire senior debut against Herefordshire this week, will keep wicket in Megson's absence, while Neal Radford will lead the side.

Radford's own Banbury future is uncertain at present.

He had originally intended to retire at the end of last season, but Megson says the former England seamer has not yet made up his mind about next year.

Craig Haupt and Mark Rorich return to the Banbury side on Saturday. Spinner Paul Hill is on holiday.

Banbury (v H Wycombe, home, 11): Haupt, Sabin, Smith, Barratt, Shahbaz Ali, Taylor, Radford, Rorich, Pearson, Adams, Phillips.