Veteran Kent seamer Mitch Claydon to be reunited with Jason Gillespie at Sussex
Claydon to join Sussex next season after seven years with Kent
ESPNcricinfo staff
09-Sep-2019
Mitch Claydon lets out a roar of celebration • Getty Images
Veteran seam bowler Mitch Claydon will leave Kent for Sussex at the end of this season.
Sussex head coach Jason Gillespie said the 36-year-old Claydon would bring a wealth of experience to his squad. "We have been looking to secure an experienced seamer for the short term to add depth to our bowling stocks and Mitch fits the bill perfectly. His experience and knowledge will be valuable in our dressing room.
"He is an important part of our plan for our seam bowling department. We are also seeking a younger, more long-term signing to complement our current bowling stocks."
Originally from Sydney, Claydon used his British passport to join Yorkshire, where he played alongside Gillespie in 2006. Claydon moved to Durham, where he was part of the Championship-winning sides of 2008, 2009 and 2013. A successful loan stint at Kent in 2013 led to a seven-year association with the club, where he was reunited with Gillespie in 2017 when the latter became an interim assistant coach.
Having helped Kent win promotion to the Championship's top division in 2018 and reach the final of the Royal London One-Day Cup the same year, Claydon was not offered a contract extension beyond this season.
Claydon said: "After playing with Dizzy in my first year in England and spending time with him when he was with Kent, I'm really excited to be playing under him again. I still feel as though I have plenty to offer and look forward to hopefully putting in some match-winning performances for Sussex.
"I'd like to give a huge thank you to all my coaches and team-mates over the past seven years at Kent. I've made memories and friends for life in the Garden of England."
Kent Head Coach Matt Walker said Claydon had been "an outstanding servant" to the club. "He's also produced some great performances for us, whether that be in red-ball cricket or at the death in limited-overs formats. He's been a real match winner for Kent on the field and a true champion off it. He'll be hugely missed."