FAMILIAR surroundings provided the perfect backdrop for Michael Coles to say his goodbyes to Minor Counties Championship cricket.

After three seasons as Wiltshire skipper, the 34-year-old is stepping away from leading the county in three-day cricket and played his final match in this week’s four-wicket defeat to Cornwall at Corsham.

Although his side still have four Western Division matches left to play this summer, Coles, who has also made four List A appearances for the Somerset Cricket Board, as well as two for Wiltshire, chose to bring his 13-year three-day career to an end at his home club, with mounting injury niggles taking their toll.

Coles has enjoyed plenty of standout moments – in June 2013, he clubbed 227 in a match against Shropshire and a year later, he led Wiltshire to the first Western Division title in their history – and whilst he aims to continue playing one-day cricket in the county’s future Knockout Trophy endeavours, he feels the time is right to pass the baton.

“Just this season, I’ve had hamstring, back and thigh problems and a lot of the guys know that I end up in pain a lot of the time,” said the outgoing captain.

“With club cricket as well, you’re playing four days in-a-row and I’ve had lower back problems for a while, so it’s quite normal that I’ll find it hard to walk until the following Thursday.

“I’ve got a young family too – my little boy, Thomas, is four in September – and I think that it’s time to let the county decide how they’re going to go forward.

“I’ve been playing for 13 years and that’s 54 or 55 games.

“I didn’t want my last game to be at Devon or Shropshire. I thought it would be right that it was at my home club and I’m glad that I got to do that.

“It’s a little bit emotional but I’m still going to try and be involved in the one-day game for as long as I can.”

Coles’ vice-captain Ed Young is expected to lead the remainder of Wiltshire’s 2016 campaign but the former Gloucestershire man is due to miss next month’s trip to Devon. That would likely see current Corsham captain Ashur Morrison take up the captaincy duties on July 3-5.

Coles added: “I think that Ashur is a future Wiltshire captain. He’s already the captain at a great club and I think that he will be the one to take it forward next year.”