What happens next? Alec Stewart holds key to who succeeds Gareth Batty

Head coach when a hat-trick of Rothesay County Championships was won, he leaves with wonderful memories as both player and coach over 21 years.

His departure is no shock, a change clearly being needed after last season's slide. David Gilbert, manager in 1996-97 when a long honours drought ended, reckoned players can stop listening to a coach after two years.

There was a belief among the club hierarchy that it had happened to Batty. The main question now – other than whether it will be followed by a new captain as well, Rory Burns having declared at the end of the campaign that he had some thinking to do – is who next?