The Warwickshire cricketer has nominated Cure Leukaemia, based at Edgbaston’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital, as the charity for his benefit year.
It comes after a similar move in 2007 by former cricketer Ashley Giles, now the county’s director of cricket, and former footballer Geoff Thomas who also raised thousands of pounds for the cause. “I am proud to be supporting a local charity and visiting the centre has shown me the excellent work the team here is achieving,” said Frost. “I hope to be able to raise as much money as possible for the Cure Leukaemia during my benefit year.” The benefit year starts on Friday with a lunchtime reception at Apr&egraves Bar, in Summer Row, Birmingham city centre, from noon to 2pm, hosted by Warwickshire favourite Ian Salisbury. The cricketing hero will then hold his first official event of a curry night at Shimla Pinks, in Broad Street, this Monday. Revellers will be expected to donate around &pound35 each for the evening, where they will be able to mingle with guests including Giles, Allan Donald and Dougie Brown.
Having made his debut in 1997 and received his county cap two years later, Frost retired from playing at the end of 2006 to join the club’s ground staff but was persuaded to return as a player at the start of last year when Tim Ambrose was called into the England set-up.