DORSET stalwart Chris Park admitted “common sense” prevailed in the decision for him to relinquish the limited overs captaincy.

The wicketkeeper-batsman revealed he would not skipper the Minor Counties outfit in the 20-over or 50-over format this summer, with star offspinner Jigar Naik set to take the reins.

Park remains club captain and will still be in charge for the three-day format – he will also stay on the county selection panel for all forms.

He said: “It was decided with Jigar’s experience of winning the professional T20 competition with Leicestershire that he would captain the T20 team with the possibility of me not being in that squad.

“He is very experienced in T20 cricket, knows the lads and is a season into his Minor Counties career, I am handing it over to somebody with very good calibre.

“Common sense suggests the time is now for me to step down from the captaincy of the T20 and one-day side and concentrate on being a player.

“Looking towards the new format, we discussed over the winter that now was the right time to let Ed Ellis keep wicket in the one-day stuff.”

Park is set to be part of Dorset’s 12-man squad when they take on Somerset’s academy in a 50-over preseason friendly at Taunton Vale tomorrow (11am).

Naik is not included, meaning batsman Luke Webb will skipper the side.

Meanwhile, Dorset’s Unicorns One-Day Trophy campaign begins with a preliminary round battle against Cornwall at North Perrott on Sunday, April 29 (11am).

Dorset: (from) Walker, Digby, Webb, Eckland, Ellis, Porter, McCoy, Park, Robinson, S Currie, Clutterbuck, B Currie.