Batty weighs up club move.

FORMER England spinner Gareth Batty has held talks with Warwickshire as he ponders a move across the West Midlands next season.

Worcestershire have granted a request from the 31-year-old to talk to other counties after he became disenchanted with life at New Road seven years after arriving from Surrey.

His form has suffered this season to the point where, when the Bears visited New Road in the championship three weeks ago, he was elsewhere try-into recapture form with the Second XI. But Warwickshire, with no senior off-spinner on the staff, are keen to increase their slow-bowling options. And they believe there could still be plenty of cricket left in a player at an age when many twirlers still have their best years ahead of them.

While Batty could make Warwickshire his fourth county (he started his career with his native Yorkshire), it is looking less likely that former Bears seamer Alan Richardson will return to Edgbaston. Richardson, now with Middlesex, has been the subject of a formal approach from Warwickshire and is highly rated by director of cricket Ashley Giles, a former teammate.

The vastly-experienced seamer is now back in Middlesex's side after injury but would be 35 early next season and represent a risk in terms of how much cricket he would play. The Bears have spoken to him but are yet to offer a contract.

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Target: Gareth Batty.