ICSF WORLDS: Heard named a GB captain for Ashes series

Wednesfield star Paul Heard has been named as the Team GB captain leading into the 2015 Ashes Test Series and Federations Cup.

Heard was delighted to receive the news from GB team manager Dave Murphy and is highly motivated to lead the Lions to victory in what will be the first Ashes Series to be staged in the UK.

Horspath and England stalwart Mark Boaler has been named as vice-captain and will add his experience to the GB team leadership whilst Murphy also has experienced campaigners (and former captains) such as Lee Aris and Steve Harris in the wings staking their claim for squad places.

The GB manager has been impressed that a number of Britain’s best riders have already come forward and contacted him to confirm their availability and demonstrate their desire to be part of the squad.

On the selection of Heard as captain, Murphy was keen to point out that having made the “difficult” decision to accept the GB team manager role again despite the disappointment of previous Ashes defeat in Australia, he was then faced with the “relatively easy” decision of identifying who he believed to be the right person for the role of team captain.

Murphy said “Having observed Paul’s development since his first GB Tour (as a junior) in 2009, I firmly believe that he will lead by example on the track and demonstrate the necessary leadership qualities befitting of the role”.