LUKE Ryan says a busy schedule of work and studying is behind his decision to step down as Oxfordshire captain, writes JACK JOHNSON.

The 28-year-old announced on social media last week he would no longer skipper the minor county side.

He is also ending a 12-year stint with Home Counties Premier League outfit Banbury, saying he is in need of a “new challenge”.

Ryan recently left his role as business manager with the Oxfordshire Cricket Board to become the ECB’s head of participation and growth in the south central region.

His new job means he is not able to commit to Unicorns Counties Championship games, which are played over three days, while he is also studying a part-time MBA open university degree.

The left-arm spinner said: “I have been thinking about it for a good while.

“I will not have the time to take annual leave, as well as working and studying – it is not possible for me to commit the time.

“I cannot captain when I am not available for the whole format.

“I have done it for four years and it is pretty healthy to have someone new come in.”

Ryan added: “I really enjoyed leading and being responsible for the side.

“We took a bit of a different strategy of bringing through a lot of young players, which was really pleasing and we still managed to have a good degree of success.”

Ryan became Oxfordshire’s youngest captain at 24 when he was appointed in December 2012.

He says being crowned Western Division champions in 2015 was the highlight and he is still keen on playing for the side in the one-day Unicorns Counties Trophy competition.

Ryan added: “I have said I will almost certainly be available, but if they want to replace me with someone younger I will have no qualms.”

As for his club cricket, he is leaving Banbury having taken 600 wickets over the course of 12 years.

But Ryan, who lives in Witney, is still undecided where he will be playing next.

He said: “There is no rush. I need a bit of a new challenge.

“I think it would be good to play against some new players and see some new faces.”

A replacement for Ryan as county captain will be announced shortly.

Oxfordshire chairman Chris Clements said: “I want to thank Luke for his hard work as captain.

“He has been an integral part of the success we have enjoyed over recent seasons and I’m sure it wasn’t an easy decision.

“By resigning now, Luke has given us plenty of time to select and appoint a successor before the 2017 pre-season, and an announcement will be made early in the new year.”