Rested Ambrose back to his best, says Giles

By Paul Bolton

Warwickshire’s director of cricket Ashley Giles believes that Tim Ambrose is back to his best this season even though the former England wicketkeeper has been rested for the Friends Life t20 campaign.

Ambrose considered retiring from cricket two years ago when he was weighed down by personal problems, but he has kept consistently well this season and contributed valuable middle order runs in Warwickshire’s unbeaten start to their County Championship campaign.

But Warwickshire have decided to give first team opportunities to Richard Johnson, Ambrose’s understudy during the Twenty20 competition while Ambrose has been given a three week break.

“Amby is disappointed he is not playing in the t20 but we believe that in this format Johnno is a better option,” Giles said. “Amby is bound to be disappointed and he has been absolutely brilliant for us in the two other forms this year.

“It looks like he’s back to the Amby of 2007. That’s great to see. He’s a very happy bloke now, he’s enjoying his cricket and he probably batting as well as he ever has.

“We want to give Johnno every opportunity but we can’t pick the side on keeping people content. Johnno is a good enough keeper to be playing first-class cricket anyhwere so giving him just t20 cricket is not going to keep him happy.

“We believe down the order he’s a very good at sweeping seamers and he’s a good finisher. Amby wouldn’t have batted in the top eight which is key factor.

“There’s also Amby’s injury. We need to look after that. It was a serious injury, a hip injury which I know all about. T20 is a hectic game so it gives him a bit of a break from that which is good.”

 

Date: 15/06/2012 23:49:03 by Paul Bolton
In: Warwickshire | Today |