Johnson planning to leave Warwickshire

By Paul Bolton

Warwickshire are resigned to losing reserve wicketkeeper Richard Johnson when his contract expires at the end of the season.

Warwickshire would like to retain the services of the talented 23-year-old from Solihull but accept that no what financial deal they might come up with, Johnson is at a stage in his career when he needs to be playing regular first team cricket.

Johnson was given opportunities during Warwickshire’s recent Friends Life t20 campaign but when the LV= County Championship resumed, former England wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose was recalled.

Two weeks ago Johnson went on loan to Derbyshire to cover for the injured Tom Poynton and made his mark there, making his  aiden one-day half century in last week’s Clydesdale Bank 40 win over Yorkshire at Chesterfield.

Johnson is now back at Edgbaston having been recalled early from his loan spell because Ambrose has suffered a thigh injury which will keep him sidelined for two weeks.

Johnson used his first County Championship appearance for Warwickshire in 15 months to make a chirpy competition-best 49 in the first innings against Surrey at Edgbaston which another reminder of his talent and versatility.

Having allowed his Warwickshire contract to run down it now seems certain that Johnson will decide to continue his career away from Edgbaston although a return to his native county in the future as successor to Ambrose cannot be ruled out.


Date: 28/07/2012 14:45:37 by Paul Bolton
In: Warwickshire | Today |