LONDON (AFP)
Warwickshire have called a halt to their efforts to sign England allrounder Ben Hollioake from Surrey.

Warwickshire, one of English cricket's wealthiest counties, had offered him a lucrative three-year contract but Hollioake has indicated he intends to sign a one-year deal with Surrey, although he has yet to put pen to paper.

"We are disappointed to miss out because we thought Ben would be a valuable addition to our squad for our first season in the First Division of the championship," said Warwickshire's director of coaching Bob Woolmer. "It looks like he has decided against joining us. But he has to make the right decision for his career. I hope for Ben's sake that he has done that.

"Even without him I still believe that we have got a squad capable of challenging for trophies," added Woolmer.

Hollioake, 24, currently on tour with the England one-day squad in New Zealand, has long been viewed as a player of enormous promise. But after making his Test debut against Australia at Trent Bridge in 1997, he was given just one more Test, at The Oval against Sri Lanka, the following year before dropping out of England's five-day plans.

However, he has appeared in 20 one-day internationals, the latest the fourth match against India at Kanpur last month. But his form has so far failed to match his natural ability as a record of 309 runs at 20.60 and 8 wickets at an expensive 66.50 indicates.

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