Wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose joined Warwickshire from Sussex in 2006

Warwickshire have awarded Tim Ambrose a new one-year contract to compete with Richard Johnson for the wicketkeeper's role at Edgbaston.

The former England Test keeper suffered a torrid summer with the bat in 2010, losing his Bears place to Johnson.

But Bears director of cricket Ashley Giles said: "Tim has signed a new contract, so we're over the moon.

"He's had a very difficult couple of years. I'm sure he has asked a lot of questions of himself," he told BBC WM.

"I'm pleased to see he has certainly taken an upturn.

"He's now looking forward to next year. He's going to work hard this winter and hopefully we're going to see the best of Tim Ambrose next year."

Hopefully we're going to see the best of Tim Ambrose next year Ashley Giles

The 27-year old took a break from cricket in June to come to terms with his loss of form and some personal problems, and has not even hinted at a return to the standards that earned him 11 Test caps.

That gave Johnson his chance and the Solihull-born youngster responded well.

Johnson, 22, hit 223 runs in seven County Championship matches as the Bears recovered over the second half of the summer to beat the drop, as well as helping his team to beat Somerset in the CB40 final at Lord's.

"Richard Johnson finished really well," said Giles. "He is, to all intents and purposes, the man in possession right now.

"But we now have wicketkeeping depth again, as well as more batting depth."

The Bears have also agreed new deals with seam bowler Andy Miller and the PCA Cricketer of the Year Neil Carter and signed Ireland skipper William Porterfield from Gloucestershire.

But there are renewed doubts over the availability of next season's signing Younus Khan, now that the Pakistan Cricket Board have cleared the way for him to be recalled by his national team.

"A lot's been said recently about Pakistan cricket and Younus's involvement again," said Giles. "But, right now, he's very much committed to coming to Warwickshire.

"He's a man of great integrity and a man of high class as well. He averages 50 in Test cricket.

"I'm very pleased that we've signed him. We need runs in Championship cricket and in all cricket, and it looks like we're going to miss Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell again for large parts of next year.

"Younus has made a commitment to us for two years, we've made that commitment to Younus - what happens next month, next year, none of us can foresee right now.

"But, at the moment we're looking forward to Younus becoming a Bear."

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