Middlesex captain Leus du Plooy and cricket chief Alan Coleman to leave

Middlesex captain Leus du Plooy and director of cricket Alan Coleman will both leave the county at the end of 2026, creating changes in the club’s playing leadership and cricket management. BBC Sport reported the departures on Monday after Middlesex announced that both men had decided to move on at the end of the year.

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Du Plooy had been contracted at Lord’s through 2027 under terms that depended on him continuing to qualify as a local player. The 31-year-old has chosen instead to explore the possibility of earning a South Africa international cap, a decision that will give him overseas-player status from next year and alter the basis of his Middlesex deal.

The left-handed batter joined Middlesex in 2024 after five years with Derbyshire. According to the BBC report, he has scored 2,795 first-class runs for Middlesex at an average of 51.75, making seven centuries. His highest score for the county was an unbeaten 263 against Gloucestershire at Lord’s in 2025.

Du Plooy took over as Middlesex captain in June 2025. In comments published on the club’s website and reported by the BBC, he said an opportunity had emerged to investigate representing South Africa and that he felt he owed it to himself to see where that path might lead. The move is therefore tied to a possible international future rather than a confirmed South Africa selection.

Coleman has served as Middlesex’s director of cricket since the end of 2021, when he assumed the role following Stuart Law’s departure as head coach. He had previously worked for the county as an assistant coach and academy director. During his tenure, the Middlesex men earned promotion to Division One of the County Championship in 2022, while the women’s team won the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy in 2024.

Middlesex said Coleman will remain in his post until at least the end of the year. He is expected to oversee the beginning of the winter training programme and assist during the transition. Separately, the county has signed 32-year-old New Zealand seam bowler Danru Ferns for its final three County Championship matches, the BBC reported.