Lewis Hill has released a statement resigning as captain of Leicestershire County Cricket Club. He pointed to health concerns that have severely impacted his life both personally and professionally. The 30-year-old cricketer, who captained the Foxes to a One-Day Cup triumph in 2023, shared his candid battle with alopecia for the first time. This condition leads to total body hair loss and has caused him a great deal of emotional suffering.
In an honest interview with BBC Radio Leicestershire, Hill opened up about how the pressure of captaincy affected his health. He admitted that the pressures associated with leading the team contributed to his hair loss, stating, “Stress is kind of the main thing, but they don’t actually know, which is a weird thing.” On a personal note, he considered the impact of this situation on his self-care practice.
“I just kind of lost the sense of looking after myself a little bit,” Hill noted, highlighting the emotional burden he felt during what he described as a “tough year.” Alopecia has hit Stephen three times throughout his life, with the most recent episode occurring right before his wedding. “I’ve had alopecia three times in my life – when I was at school, then four or five years ago just before I got married I got a little spot randomly,” he explained.
Due to his condition, Hill was often left wearing caps to hide spots of baldness. He chose not to renew his captaincy after last season. This gave him the space to reset his approach to batting and find greater balance and satisfaction in his life. This decision came after he realized that managing both his health challenges and captaincy was becoming overwhelming.
Behind the struggles, Hill’s cricketing performance has exhibited a rebirth. His 96 runs in the only completed match against Glamorgan helped his team win by 10 wickets, the top score of the match. “It took my hair, but luckily I’ve got it back this year, just like how my batting has come back,” Hill remarked, indicating his hope for recovery both on and off the pitch.
Hill’s exit as skipper marks the conclusion of his two-year leadership stint. Along the way, he had a hand in navigating the club through numerous peaks and valleys. He expressed that while stepping down was necessary for his personal health, he remains committed to supporting his teammates in other capacities.
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