New captain Ben Stebbings insists he's looking forward to leading Shrewsbury as he starts to plan ahead for next season's Birmingham Cricket League premier division campaign.

The top order batsman, who has played first-class cricket for Oxford MCCU and skippered Minor Counties side Herefordshire, was elected as Shrewsbury's new captain at last week's AGM after Rob Foster decided to stand down after four seasons in charge.

Stebbings, 27, stressed he really enjoyed his first summer as Shrewsbury player last season and he's now excited to have taken on the added responsibility of captaincy.

"I've done it before," said Stebbings. "I captained Brockhampton and I've captained Herefordshire. I was vice-captain and then did a season as captain as the usual captain was injured, so it's something I've done before and I enjoy it.

"When Rob approached me about taking it on, I was happy to put my name forward and Shrewsbury's a really great club.

"Over the last eight or nine years, Shrewsbury have probably been one of the most successful clubs in the country with the consistency, so some good ground work has been laid."

He may have only joined the London Road club last season, but Stebbings revealed he's long been an admirer of Shrewsbury through his friendship with club stalwart Mike Barnard.

He said: "I would have joined the club years ago if I could, but I was living in Cheltenham and Brockhampton was my home club. Mike Barnard and I are best mates and I've known the Fosters very well for years and years.

"I knew how good a club it was and I had always been keen to join but it hadn't been feasible.

"I loved it last season and, although I personally didn't do very well, I thoroughly enjoyed my cricket and it was probably the most enjoyable season I've had."

Stebbings insists he was impressed how Shrewsbury rallied in the second half of last season to eventually finish third in the Birmingham League's competitive premier division. He now hopes changes will be kept to a minimum as he targets a successful campaign.

"The main priority is to strengthen both the first and second team squads," he said.

"We've got cricketers who float between the two teams but the depth is something we struggled with a little bit in the first half of last season when we weren't doing so well.

"I think we're hoping to tie up an overseas player soon - we're still waiting to finalise that.

"I've also got my eye on one person I know very well who's an unbelievable cricketer. I'm not going to say too much just yet but he's on our radar.

"We don't want to change it too much because the team we had at the end of last year was very good and we would be happy if we could carry that into the next season.

"You want to sign the best players you can but they've got to fit in and Shrewsbury have built their success on local lads so you've got to be wary."

Tom Somerville has been appointed as Shrewsbury's new second team captain after the experienced Jon Anders opted to relinquish the role.