Edwards, 45, from Bath will be at the helm for a year and succeeds Yorkshire-based Jonathan Plaxton, who has been in charge since 2007.

"This is a big honour for me and I'm delighted," said Edwards.

"It is great to play for your country but to be captain is something I've always wanted to do and I'm really looking forward to it."

Edwards was a regular in the England side from 1991 to 2003, during which time he played 86 matches, winning 47.

He also represented Europe in the Bonallack Trophy and was a Walker Cup reserve in 1999.

He has won several key titles including the West of England Stroke Play, Berkshire Trophy and the 1995 Brabazon Trophy at Hillside, finishing tied with Mark Foster.

He reached the (English) Amateur Championship semi-finals in 1997 and the quarter finals two years later.

At home in Somerset he has won the county title on 12 occasions, the most recent being last year.

His record for Somerset is indeed quite remarkable, stretching back almost 30 years. He made his debut in 1979 at the age of 16 and has clocked up around 150 appearances since then.

In recent years his playing appearances have been restricted by business and family commitments as well as by a back injury sustained in a road accident.

However, he returned to the national scene in 2007 to win the English Mid-Amateur Championship for the Logan Trophy at Minchinhampton.

"My back has not been good for the last 18 months so I haven't played much this year," he says.

"I've been giving it a bit of a rest but I intend to play a bit more next year. That way you get a better indication how players are performing. But I will also go to other key events to keep a close eye on what is happening.

"Next year is a massive year on the international scene with the European Team Championships at Conwy in Wales, the Home Internationals at Hillside, and the Walker Cup.

"We must try to get as many English players as possible into the Walker Cup team, which is one reason, I was persuaded me to take on the task."

Colin, the manager for an IT company in Bristol, is married to Julia and they have two sons, Matthew (11) and Tim (9).

Edwards is the second West Countryman to lead England in the past decade. Malcolm Lewis was in charge from 1998 - 2001.

Edwards' first time in his new role is expected to be the away international with Spain at La Reserva near Sotogrande in March.