STUART Rintoul has announced his retirement as Dorset skipper.

Rintoul, who captained Dorset to their only Minor Counties Championship national title in 2000, will step down with immediate effect leaving Sean Walbridge in charge for the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy visit of Buckinghamshire to Dean Park today.

The former Sherborne School and Cardiff University student made his debut for the county coincidentally against Bucks in 1986 when he was still only a teenager before being handed the skipper's role 13 years later.

But to successor Walbridge's delight, 35-year-old Rintoul is set to prolong his playing career.

The new skipper said: "Stuart's done a marvellous job captaining the side and I'm delighted and honoured to be taking over from him. The good news is that he's decided to carry on playing and his experience and know-how on the park will be invaluable."

Walbridge, who left his home town club Dorchester at the start of the summer to play Southern League cricket for Bournemouth, added: "At the moment, my appointment is for this game only but I'd like to think I'll be considered for the captaincy long term. I'll definitely be throwing my hat in the ring but we'll have to wait and see what happens."

Victory for Dorset will mean automatic entry into the first round of the cricket's showpiece one-day competition next season and the guarantee of a game against first class opposition.

After another disappointing summer, Walbridge is desperate to for Dorset to go out on a high.