Skipper reacts to Travis Head signing

Ben Brown is 'really excited' by the signing of Travis Head as the side's overseas player for next season. Speaking to Paul Weaver of the ECB Reporter's Network after Sussex's end of season awards ceremony, the club captain said: "We’ve wanted to get an overseas batter for a while, but we haven’t had the reserves in the bowling to be able to do it. 

“We’ve added an experienced bowler in Mitch Claydon and we’ve added a few other bowlers here and there too, and that’s really helped us to go after the really experienced batter that we’ve needed for a while.

“Credit to Dizzy [Gillespie], he knows Travis really well from Australia. And this is a massive signing for Sussex, as good as we could honestly hope for. It doesn’t guarantee success on the field – you never can.  But we’ve got the right person, a top-quality player.

“I’ve seen plenty of him and his numbers in first-class cricket are outstanding. He’s also a quality person off the field, from what I understand, and that’s hugely important and a factor not always appreciated by spectators.

“He’s also the right person to help our young batters fit into the culture of the place and drive the club forward.  And to have an overseas player for the whole season in the modern day is terrific.”

Sussex will continue to back their young batsmen, but Brown added: “Opportunities have to be earned. And if you have too many young players at the top it can actually be harder for those guys to learn.

“So to be able to slot another experienced player alongside Stiaan and myself is really exciting.  Batting in England at the top of the order, particularly in April and September, is tough, so you need some experience to help the youngsters.”