North Albury captain Ash Borella steps down for personal reasons

Borella handed over the duties to Brendan Simmons, who led the Hoppers in last week's win over St Patrick's.

"It's due to personal reasons, I just got married in September and building a house and the bloke who was working with us is leaving on Friday, so it's just back to my old man and I," he said.

"I'm hopeful that I'll still be able to help 'Simmo' throughout the year, at the moment the full leadership role (along with everything else) was too much to handle."

Borella captained the team over the past two and a half seasons, guiding the club to one of the association's biggest upsets in last season's grand final series against Lavington.

The Panthers boasted the best attack of the past 25 years and destroyed the Hoppers in the opening game for just 87 before cruising to a nine-wicket win.

North improved with 159 in game two, but it looked a target well within Lavington's reach.

However, Englishman George McCormick claimed 4-26 and the favorites were skittled for 123.

The Panthers then posted 8-183 in the third game and North cruised to a five-wicket win with 22 balls to spare.

North is currently fourth, but in a surprise the premiers have lost four of their eight games.

The former skipper says he will miss the role.

"I want to do the best for the club and if I'm not there 100 per cent each week at least I can be there as a player and do my best," he said.

"It's one of those things you love doing, I love the club more than anything, but there does come a time when everything around you does become full on and something's got to take a break.

"I still enjoy cricket, still want to play cricket and still want to do the best for the club.

"The best for the club is to stand down as captain and play my role and hopefully someone can lead us to another 'grannie' (grand final)."

Simmons boasts tremendous experience and coached the club for two years from 2015-16.

Borella's commitments certainly haven't affected his batting.

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The swashbuckling left-hander sits third in the run-scorers at 50-over level with 314 at 39.25.

Borella has been one of the association's leading batsmen over the past seven years, finishing the leading scorer on four occasions, including three straight from 2015-16.

North faces New City in Saturday's final round before the three-week break.

The visitors won the round one clash by 77 runs, with Borella scoring 95 in the bumper total of 8-302.

However, Zimbabwean international Tarisai Musakanda announced his arrival by smashing an unbeaten 139.