CHRIS Park has confirmed he wants to stay on as captain of Dorset next season and is coming back to the area to play his club cricket next summer.

The wicketkeeper batsman, who has just completed his second full year at the helm of the county set-up, had been playing his club cricket for Northampton Saints.

But with his return to the Dorset area’s club scene imminent, the skipper believes it will give him a good chance to view the emerging talent, as well as casting his eye on potential squad members.

“Next season I will be moving back to the area to play my club cricket and it will give me a good chance to look at and play against these guys,” he told Echosport.

“I’d like to think as captain I get the final say on team selection.

“There are definitely a lot of young cricketers out there that are playing in the Dorset Premier League and the Southern League that we need to keep our eyes on.

“I am looking forward to inviting a few new faces to our training sessions this winter and getting them integrated in the squad.”

Asked whether he would like to stay on as Dorset captain next season, Park said: “Absolutely. I do think we have a good thing going with our spirit and camaraderie and the way we played for three or four games of the Championship season was really positive.”

Despite showing glimpses of their talent last term, Dorset’s Minor Counties summer was once again lacklustre in terms of results, winning only one out of six Championship games.

And with the retirement of Dorset stalwart Tom Hicks, the county skipper believes now is the time for his younger players, who have been around the side for a little while, to step forward and take responsibility.

“I think you can give everybody a bit of a grace and run of games when you can say you are still learning but that line has to be drawn this winter,” he added.

“We can’t say to the likes of Luke Webb and Ryan Scott that they are still inexperienced and young.

“They have learnt enough now over the last two or three years to up their game and performances and we want to see their talent shine now.

“I think that will be the message this winter. It definitely was in the end-of-season debrief afterwards.

“We reinforced that the lads are good enough otherwise they wouldn’t be selected but it’s now that they have to train as hard as they ever have done before.

“They need to be ready to put in the performances that their skill and their talents deserve.”