Rory becomes Surrey skipper

All-rounder returns to Surrey for captain next season after leaving Sussex.

Last updated: 24th December 2009  

Rory becomes Surrey skipper

Hamilton-Brown: Surrey skipper

To me, captains have to have certain attributes such as charisma, a galvanising spirit, intelligent and tactical brains and the ability to inspire people to follow them - Rory Hamilton-Brown has these in abundance.

Chris Adams
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Rory Hamilton-Brown has opted to leave Sussex and join Surrey as captain after signing a three-year deal with the Brown Caps.

The 22-year-old all-rounder was brought up in the game at Surrey's academy but has spent the last two years down at Hive playing for Sussex.

Surrey cricket manager Chris Adams was Hamilton-Brown's captain at Sussex in 2008 and he now believes he is the man to lead Surrey next year despite playing just eight first-class matches.

Hamilton-Brown has experience of captaining England through the age groups though and has been playing in South Africa with the ECB Performance Squad.

Although it was a tough decision to leave Sussex, Hamilton-Brown says it is a dream to be captain of Surrey and was delighted to have signed.

Dream

"It's no exaggeration to say that returning to Surrey as captain is the dream of a lifetime for me personally as well as a massive honour and a huge responsibility," he told Surrey's website.

"I will make sure I fulfil the confidence that Surrey and specifically Chris Adams have shown in me and I am determined to help bring the club success in the future.

"It has taken a considerable amount of soul-searching to reach this decision and I'd like to place on record my sincere thanks to Sussex for the fantastic support they have given me and their understanding of my final decision.

"I leave the club with great memories and the club, the players and the coaches have played a major part in my development as a player."

Adams has no doubt that Hamilton-Brown has what it takes to succeed as captain in the County Championship despite a relative lack of experience.

"To me, captains have to have certain attributes such as charisma, a galvanising spirit, intelligent and tactical brains and the ability to inspire people to follow them - Rory Hamilton-Brown has these in abundance," said Adams.

Leadership

"When I flew to South Africa to meet him I was sure that the addition of Rory to our squad will give us stability, unity and strong leadership for many years to come and enable us - for the first time in two years - to provide consistent leadership on the field of the play.

"I am confident that the return of Rory Hamilton-Brown to Surrey at the start of a new decade will come to be seen as a defining moment in the turnaround of this club."

Sussex accepted the move by releasing hamilton-Brown from his contract, but cricket manager Mark Robinson thought he was better off staying at Hove.

"Our view remains that he would have been best served remaining with Sussex as a key part of our first-team squad, in all forms of the game for 2010," he told the club's website.

"However, Rory is adamant he would like to take this opportunity to captain Surrey and given the importance of our strong united team spirit in the dressing room, myself and the captain believe it is best for Sussex to allow him to move.

"Rory has been a pleasure to work with during his two seasons at Sussex and the whole coaching staff wish him all the best in his new role."

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