Oxfordshire batsman Nathan Hawkes says the time was right to leave Banbury after accepting an offer to become the captain of High Wycombe.

The 25-year-old, whose destructive hitting has often made him a match-winner, had ambitions to succeed outgoing Banbury skipper Jimmy Phillips.

But the players instead gave their backing to Oxfordshire captain Luke Ryan – a move which is due to be ratified at the club’s annual meeting next Thursday.

Ryan has also taken over as club coach from Paul Atkins, who has been released – another decision Hawkes was unhappy with.

  •  Latest Sport news

Hawkes is the second high-profile player to leave Banbury this winter with Oxon wicket-keeper/batsman Jonny Cater returning to his home town club, Buckingham Town, as player-coach.

And he said: “People left at Banbury and with the situation there at the minute I felt it was time to get out and have a fresh challenge.

“I thought the opportunity to captain High Wycombe was not one to turn down.”

Hawkes, who succeeds Matt Eyles at High Wycombe, added: “I have played at Banbury for nine or ten years and to be captain would have been nice.

“I think a few decisions were not made in probably the best way.”

He also revealed that he would be making himself unavailable for Oxfordshire this season – the second county player this week to take that decision after Shipton-under-Wychwood’s new recruit, Jamie Perkin, ruled himself out for 2015.

“One of the things that High Wyc-ombe wanted was someone for every cup and league game,” explained Hawkes.

Ryan, meanwhile, can’t wait to succeed Phillips, and believes he can handle the additional roles he’s taking on as well as being Oxfordshire captain.

“I am hugely excited about it,” said the 26-year-old left-arm spinner.

“I have been playing for Banbury since 2005, and I owe a lot to the club for my development as a cricketer.

“I have done it almost the wrong way by being Oxfordshire captain before Banbury’s.

“We have been the nearly men for a number of years, so we will be trying to take the club to the next level.”

Phillips, who led Banbury to the ECB National Club Twenty20 finals day in his first season as captain, said Ryan would have his full support.

“My number one position is I am a servant of Banbury Cricket Club and I want to do what is best for the club,” he said.

“2013 was a pretty good year, particularly with the cup run, but last year didn’t go as well as I had hoped.

“Luke has proved himself to be an able cricketer, and I know what a good captain he is.

“It is a shame that Nathan wanted to move on, that was the disappointment of it.”

  •  Do you want alerts delivered straight to your phone via our WhatsApp service? Text NEWS or SPORT or NEWS AND SPORT, depending on which services you want, and your full name to 07767 417704. Save our number into your phone’s contacts as Oxford Mail WhatsApp and ensure you have WhatsApp installed.