Steven Finn departs Middlesex after 17 seasons to sign for Sussex

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Experienced England fast bowler to join the “project” at Hove from 2022

Steven Finn, the former England fast bowler, has agreed a move to Sussex and will leave his boyhood county, Middlesex, at the end of the season.

Finn, 32, has played more than 100 times for England across all formats, but was last capped in 2017. He was one of a number of players coming to the end of his contract at Middlesex, where in 2005 he became the club’s youngest first-class debutant, aged 16.

A multiple Ashes winner, Finn was also part of the Middlesex side that won the County Championship in 2016, and in recent seasons has captained the 50-over and T20 sides in Eoin Morgan’s absence. He joins Sussex on a “multi-year” deal to play all formats.

“I am looking forward to the opportunity to play for Sussex from the 2022 season onwards,” Finn said. “It is a club that I have always admired and found to be challenging opponents.

“The squad is full of exciting talent, and I can’t wait to work hard and help the team realise its full potential.”

The youngest man to take 50 Test wickets for England, Finn played a big part in England winning in Australia for the first time in 24 years in 2010-11. Although an issue with hitting the stumps in his delivery stride contributed to a difficult period spent remodelling his action, he returned to feature in the 2015 World Cup and help England regain the Ashes later that same year.

In his 17 seasons at Middlesex, Finn claimed 394 first-class wickets at 28.13, as well as 77 in List A and 116 in T20 cricket.

The announcement comes a day after confirmation that two Sussex first-team regulars, in Phil Salt and Chris Jordan, had turned down contract offers in preference of moving elsewhere.

Sussex’s Championship and one-day head coach, Ian Salisbury, said: “It’s fantastic to be able to attract a player of Steven’s calibre to Hove.

“He really likes the project we’ve got going on down here and is very keen to use his performances and impart all his knowledge to help us get to where we want to be in two- or three-years’ time: competing on all fronts. Steve knows all about winning, whether with Middlesex or England.

“Finny is someone who can play in all three forms in the game, and that is a big part of our strategy for new signings. He’s still a young man with plenty of good years ahead of him.

“He has a wealth of experience at the highest level with England, he’s a leader who can help develop our young players coming through and above all he is a really good guy.

Sussex’s T20 head coach, James Kirtley, added: “I am delighted we have managed to sign Steven Finn. He is the marquee bowler we were looking for. We knew we needed to find someone to lead and support our bowling unit and we were clear we wanted a bowler of Finny’s calibre in our side.

“We are also looking for leaders and he has recently led Middlesex in T20 cricket so to add this to the pot is amazing. It is important for us to have a bowler with Steve’s experience to help develop our young crop of pace bowlers.

“We have talked at length about bowling, and I am very excited and looking to working with him. Steve is very keen to perform for Sussex, he really likes what we are doing, and was adamant he wanted to help our young bowlers.

“Most importantly, he is the right person for Sussex. He is an excellent bloke with a great reputation, and we are lucky to have him join us.”