Sussex Snatch Styris From Essex

Sussex Snatch Styris From Essex

Scott Styris (left) plays for Essex against his new county Sussex.

©Action Images

Sussex have signed former New Zealand and Essex all-rounder Scott Styris as one of their two overseas players for the Friends Life t20. It is understood that he will be available for the Sharks’ entire T20 campaign.

The 36 year-old’s brand of aggressive middle-order batting and slow-medium pace has been a key component of his former county's run of success in the competition over the past two seasons, and Sussex Professional Cricket Manager Mark Robinson was clearly delighted at having secured the services of the all-rounder from his south group rivals.

He said, “Scott has been a real thorn in our side in the last couple of years for Essex and we are really pleased he has decided to join us.

“We have lacked someone who is able to come in during the middle overs and be able to clear the ropes, and Scott, as we’ve seen to our cost, is proven at doing this. His experience and his all-round capabilities will mean he will be a real addition to the T20 squad”.

Since playing for Essex in last season’s Friends Life t20 – during which he scored 220 runs at a strike rate of 160.58 and took seven wickets from his nine games – he has represented his state side, Northern Districts in New Zealand’s Domestic T20 tournament, where he hit 212 runs at a strike rate of 164.34 and took three wickets from 10 matches.

Styris, who represented his country in 248 matches at international level before retiring last year, said of his new contract, “I love playing in the UK, and I feel privileged to have played for a couple of great clubs (he also played for Middlesex in 2005 and 2006  and Durham in 2007).

“Whilst I am sad to be leaving Essex, where I have enjoyed the last two seasons for which I would like to thank Paul Grayson and James Foster for the fond memories, I'm really excited about joining Sussex in June and July for the T20 competition.

“Sussex has been a powerhouse in one-day cricket in recent years and I look forward to contributing to the team and working with Mark Robinson and Mike Yardy during my time at Hove, and getting stuck into winning a trophy!”

Sussex had also been thought to be targeting Albie Morkel ahead of their 2012 Friends Life t20 campaign, but he has since signed for Somerset so they will have to look elsewhere.

In one other piece of county news, Worcestershire CCC have reported a profit after interest of £211,893 for the year ending 30^th September 2011. Chief executive David Leatherdale attributed the club’s healthy financial position to “support from members and spectators...which has seen a growth in revenue from membership and ticket sales.”

The former all-rounder was also bullish about the club’s future, adding, “The recent announcement with regards [to] the potential new hotel and additional conference facilities for the club, combined with the already successful Graeme Hick Pavilion, will continue to develop the club as a 365-day-a-year sporting and conference venue, which in these uncertain economic times, is key to our sustainability as one of only 18 first-class county clubs."

© Cricket World 2012