Discarded Tudor bids to play on

Ex-England paceman Alex Tudor, released by Surrey along with Pedro Collins, has told BBC Sport he is looking for a new county to continue his career.

The 32-year-old returned to Surrey for one summer following four seasons at Essex, but is no longer required.

Tudor said: "I'm hoping to sign for a new county, but not much is coming through. I still have massive ambitions to keep on playing and I'm good enough.

"I still have the hunger if anyone gives me the opportunity."

Tudor played 10 Tests between 1998 and 2002 but saw his best years blighted by injuries.

He said that in the last few seasons he had been fit but had been denied opportunities to play.

He added that his age did not help matters, with counties keen to sign more young players to take advantage of England and Wales Cricket Board bonuses.

"A lot of counties are going down the route now of signing under-26 players and feel they have to play the youngsters. I'm an old man now.

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" Adams has pretty much ripped the heart out of the club hasn't he? Mind you, perhaps it's the right thing to do "

"But I'll play anywhere and I can help to coach the youngsters as well."

Surrey cricket manager Chris Adams has released eight players, and needs to find a new captain following Mark Butcher's retirement. Wicketkeeper Steven Davies and off-spinner Gareth Batty have come in from Worcestershire, with Piyush Chawla (another spinner) named as the overseas pro.

Tudor said: "Surrey have had a wretched time over the last few years and now a lot of good guys have left who were involved in the successful team of the late 1990s and start of this decade.

"Chris thought there might have been some deadwood and maybe there are some people who don't fit into his regime.

"The captaincy is an interesting situation. Unless he asks Stewart Walters to do the job he is still looking for someone to come in and captain the side."

Surrey have also retained eight players on new two-year contracts - batsmen Walters, Matthew Spriegel, Arun Harinath and Michael Brown, bowlers Stuart Meaker, Simon King and Tim Linley, and wicketkeeper Gary Wilson.

"I am very happy the vast majority of our squad are now able to plan for two or more solid years at Surrey"

Adams said: "When I first joined Surrey I knew it would not be possible to provide immediate solutions to the club's problems.

"With this in mind, we have developed a long-term structure to return to the position of the leading side in the English game.

"No sports team has ever benefited from a constantly high turnover of players, and I am very happy the vast majority of our squad are now able to plan for two or more solid years at Surrey."

Tudor took 220 first-class wickets at an average of 28.41 in two spells at Surrey.

He was a big part of the County Championship winning sides of 1999, 2000 and 2002 and also played a key part in the Benson and Hedges Cup victory of 2001, when he took 3-28.

Collins, who has played 32 Test matches for the West Indies, was at the Oval for two years, taking 43 wickets at an average of 37.86. He becomes the latest county player in an ever-growing list to lose their Kolpak contract.

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