Oxford County Championship Star Returns to League as Banbury Player-Coach

Oxfordshire premier cricket club, Banbury, have announced local professional, Jack Brooks, as new Head Coach for the 2024 season.

The appointment of 39-year-old former first-class fast bowler, Brooks, comes after his release from Somerset at the end of the 2023 season despite his inclusion in their T20 Blast title success.

Despite Banbury Cricket Club announcing the appointment of ‘The Ferret’ as Head Coach, the announcement also states that he will represent the 1st XI in a number of fixtures during the Home Counties Premier League season (HCPL).

Brooks, originally from Oxfordshire, played for Oxford CC and his home minor county before being picked up by Northamptonshire in 2009.

The former County Championship winner picked up 661 wickets in a stellar 14-year professional career which also included a first-class century when representing Yorkshire in 2017.

Speaking to a Banbury CC representative, Brooks said: “Having moved back into the area I'm thrilled to start a new journey into coaching.

“I'm confident I'll be able to help assist & improve some talented local players while also helping them achieve team success with Banbury CC.

Further onto this I am thankful for Banbury's support in helping me with a location for my own private coaching business; re-establishing a relationship with the Oxfordshire cricket community as well as helping to develop the players & coaches within the club.

With the commitment to work hard and have some fun this should be an exciting time for myself and Banbury going forward."

With his return to local cricket, Brooks’ availability for Oxfordshire in the National Counties competitions is uncertain despite his unattached status from the professional game at the present time but he will be working alongside Oxfordshire captain Oliver Clarke at his home club.

The news of one of Oxfordshire’s most successful county cricketers comes just a week after Oxfordshire’s own James Coles and Ollie Price were given places on England Lions’ tour to India in January.

Banbury finished fifth in Division One of the HCPL in 2023 under the captaincy of Oxfordshire stalwart, Lloyd Sabin. Under new Head Coach Brooks, Banbury will be looking for a first HCPL title since 2000.