Warwickshire want Tony Frost to delay his groundsman career and carry on batting!

Warwickshire want wicketkeeper Tony Frost to delay his return to his career as a groundsman and play one more season as a batsman.

Staffordshire-born Frost retired from first-class cricket two years ago to train as a groundsman at Edgbaston.

But he agreed to come back earlier this year when Warwickshire were left without an experienced wicketkeeper after Tim Ambrose was called up by England.

Though Ambrose faces an uncertain international future after two disappointing series against New Zealand and South Africa, Warwickshire would like Frost to play on.

The 32-year-old has scored almost 500 County Championship runs at an average of almost 80 this season and The Bears are keen to retain his experience.

Frost, who is currently playing in his 100th first-class match against Northamptonshire at Edgbaston, has yet to decide whether to extend his playing career.

He is already regarded as a strong candidate to succeed Steve Rouse, another former Warwickshire player, as head groundsman at Edgbaston, but knows that he needs to gain more experience before he can be considered for the post.

Though Frost is likely to spend the winter back on the groundstaff he has yet to spend a summer in the job and needs to learn how to prepare and repair wickets.

Frost is also anxious not to stunt the development of the highly-rated Richard Johnson who has done enough in his handful of first team games this season to convince Warwickshire that he could develop into one of the country's best young wicketkeepers.

"We've had a preliminary chat about me playing on as a batsman next season but the talks are at an early stage," Frost said.

"There are a lot of things to weigh up, most importantly what impact playing on might have on my career as a groundsman."

Warwickshire's committee are understood to be considering awarding Frost a benefit to acknowledge 15 years of service to the county.

Frost made his first team debut in 1997 and was awarded his first team cap on the final day of the 1999 season.

Source :-www.sundaymercury.net/midlands