Rhodes offered new contract at Worcester

Worcestershire are to offer Steve Rhodes a new one-year contract. Rhodes, 39, has been at the club since 1985 and was an important part of their success this season in the County Championship and the Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy, in which they reached the final.

Tom Moody, Worcestershire's coach, said: "Steve Rhodes will be playing again next year. He will be offered a new contract. He is still a valuable member of our squad. He has proven day in and day out his class behind the stumps."

He continued: "But in addition, his contribution in terms of his experience on and off the field has also been invaluable. He is still hungry to play and he will play an important role next year. He is still fit and still very professional in the way he goes about his business."

Rhodes said: "There is still a bit more life in the old dog yet. There is no danger of me leaving New Road. I'm up and ready and raring to go for next season. I want to keep playing, be part of a successful team. There are a lot of great guys in our dressing room and I want to be part of things and I feel we are going to go places."

Rhodes also has one eye on the future and will be coaching at Worcestershire's Academy during the winter. He said: "Coaching is something I want to get more and more involved in and I'm going to do some work with the youngsters and also add to my coaching qualifications."