Mitchell elected chairman of the PCA

Worcestershire's Daryl Mitchell has been elected as the new chairman of the Professional Cricketers' Association (PCA). He succeeds Mark Wallace, who steps down after four years having completed the maximum two terms.

Mitchell has already flagged the ECB's plans for a new city-based T20 competition to be introduced in 2020 as a major issue to be tackled by the PCA under his chairmanship.

"There is going to be big change ahead, not just for English domestic cricket but also on the world stage. These are interesting times," Mitchell said.

"There is talk of a franchise Twenty20 competition and it would be good to be involved in the discussions surrounding that. It's important that the questions of our 400-plus members about how it will all work are answered and that was the crux of my manifesto."

Mitchell won a ballot of current county players ahead of four other candidates: Graham Onions, Paul Horton, James Hildreth and Steven Crook. He will serve for the next two years, with the appointment due to be ratified at the PCA's annual general meeting on Tuesday.

"It was pretty competitive and there were some really good lads who went for it, so to be elected by your peers from other clubs is very pleasing," Mitchell said.

"It's a prestigious role and it has been done very well in recent years by Vikram Solanki, who I know from his time at Worcestershire, and then Mark Wallace, who has done a fantastic job over the last four years. It's a big role and a big honour and I'm looking forward to the challenges ahead.

"I have been involved with the PCA as a county representative since 2009 so I know about the fantastic work that they do. I have enjoyed being involved as a representative so this is the next step really. I want to try to get involved at the coal face of the organisation."

Mitchell, 33, has been a Worcestershire player for over a decade and served as captain until the end of last season, when he was removed from the position in acrimonious circumstances.

He is the third Worcestershire player to become PCA chairman after Tim Curtis (1989-96) and Solanki (2009-13) and he will link up with another former county team-mate, David Leatherdale, the PCA chief executive who previously held the same role at New Road.

"Daryl has been a PCA county representative for more than seven years and has a wealth of knowledge of the county game at all levels," Leatherdale said.

"He is undoubtedly held in high regard by players across the whole country as today's appointment shows and, combined with his experience as the players' representative on the ECB cricket committee, he will bring a great deal to the role of PCA Chairman. I very much look forward to working with Daryl again over the coming years."

Mitchell takes charge in the PCA's 50th anniversary season. Wallace, the former Glamorgan wicketkeeper, last week announced his retirement to become a PCA Personal Development Manager.