Briggs makes surprise Sussex switch

Danny Briggs, the left-arm spinner who was once hailed as the answer to England's one-day spin bowling needs, has sought to re-energise a faltering career by switching to Hampshire's south coast neighbours Sussex.

He moves to Hove on a three-year deal with Luke Wright, recently announced as Sussex's captain in all three formats, proclaiming that he remains the "best one-day spinner in the country."

But it is Briggs' ambitions to develop into a Championship spinner that has provided the impetus for one of the close season's more surprising transfers. He played only eight Championship matches for Hampshire in a season where they only avoided relegation on the last day of the season with the county preferring the extra batting skills of Liam Dawson and occasional forays with the up-and-coming legspinner Mason Crane.

Hampshire's director of cricket, Giles White, presented Briggs' departure as all but inevitable. "Losing Danny is tough," he said. "However this is the right decision for him and therefore he goes with our blessing. I have been lucky enough to have seen him grow into the cricketer and person that he is today and he has been a pleasure to work with throughout.

"He understands the wider picture and in some ways it was inevitable, considering his ambition to progress in all forms of the game that it would lead to him moving on. I hope the move allows him the opportunity to further his career in the longer form of the game with a good club like Sussex. Danny is an extremely popular player, the team will miss him but I have no doubt that they will all wish him well."

Briggs must have been privately torn on the last day of the season as Hampshire's survival was secured at Sussex's expense, but arguably a season in Division Two for a county strongly expected to bounce back at the first attempt will allow him the chance to build his repertoire in less taxing circumstances, which after a few unrewarding seasons in four-day cricket may be no bad thing.

Wright said: "Danny is a fantastic signing and one I am really excited about. We are signing a young England international spinner who is arguably the best one-day spinner in the country, and is young enough to develop into a top four-day bowler too. He is a hard worker and a tough competitor."

Briggs, released early from his Hampshire contract, has taken 191 first-class wickets in his 67 matches, with a best of 6 for 45 for the England Lions in 2011. His wickets have come at an average of 32.14, with an economy rate of only slightly over 3 runs per over.

He made an England ODI debut against Pakistan in Dubai in 2012 - becoming the youngest Hampshire player, and the first Isle of Wight-born cricketer, to play for his country - and has also played seven times in the T20 international format.

His ability in the shortest format helped Hampshire to a record six consecutive T20 Finals Day appearances from 2010 onwards. He set a club record of 31 wickets in 2010 as Hampshire won the trophy on home turf and became their go-to bowler in the shortest format, taking 119 wickets at an average of 19.4 from 94 matches.

In the Championship, however, his lack of spin has counted against him. He will not find it easy at Hove, which possesses one of the smaller playing surfaces in the country.

Briggs said of his move: "I'm excited for the opportunities that lie ahead. I'm really grateful that Hampshire are letting me leave early. I'd like to thank all the playing staff and the coaches that I've worked with."