Ben Brown signs for Hampshire after early Sussex contract release

Ben Brown has signed a two-year contract at Hampshire after leaving Sussex at the end of last year following his removal from the club captaincy.

Brown, 33, had two years left to run on his Sussex contract but was released from his deal in December following talks with the club. Brown had an excellent 2021 season with the bat, making 976 County Championship runs with four hundreds, but was axed as captain in mid-summer and requested a move.

He has signed an all-formats contract with Hampshire but will be expected to perform in the Championship in particular, as part of a strong middle order already containing James Vince, Nick Gubbins and Liam Dawson. He will be competing with Lewis McManus and Tom Alsop for the wicketkeeping gloves.

"Ben's arrival is exciting news for the club and we are looking forward to welcoming him to the group next week," Giles White, Hampshire's director of cricket, said. "He brings many qualities and has a particularly impressive red-ball record; we are confident he'll be a great addition to the squad."

Brown said: "I am extremely proud and humbled to sign for Hampshire. To be joining such a talented playing squad and to have the opportunity to work with the club's impressive coaching staff is a privilege.

"I'm looking forward to being able to call the Ageas Bowl my home ground and am hugely grateful to everyone at Hampshire for the opportunity to do so. I'm excited to be joining the group next week and to play my part in pushing for trophies and silverware over the coming years."

Brown's departure made him the latest in a string of senior players to leave Sussex in recent years, and came two weeks after Ian Salisbury, their Championship and 50-over head coach, had insisted he would see out the rest of his contract at a fans' forum.

Sussex announced on Friday that Chris Adams and Tony Cottey have been added to their cricket committee, with Adams declaring that "it has been too long" since Sussex were regularly competing for trophies and that "many challenges lie ahead for the team and all the coaching staff".