Hamilton-Brown confirms Surrey departure

By Mark Baldwin

The formal departure of Rory Hamilton-Brown from Surrey, announced earlier today, confirms the end to the saddest story of the 2012 cricket season.

All in cricket will hope that Hamilton-Brown, who has failed to recover fully from the tragic death of his close friend and Surrey teammate Tom Maynard in mid-June, will be able to relaunch his professional career at another county. Somerset appear in prime position to offer him the new start that he clearly needs, but a spell out of the game could yet be his preferred first option.

However, Surrey's agreement to a request from Hamilton-Brown to be released from his contract means, after a three-year second stint at the county, that the 25-year-old is immediately free to sign for another club.

Hamilton-Brown, who first played for Surrey in 2005 after rising through the club's youth system before having two years with Sussex in 2008 and 2009, led Surrey in 2010 and 2011 and for the first half of this season. Last year he captained the club to promotion to Division One of the County Championship and to the Clydesdale Bank 40 title. He scored 4,166 runs for Surrey in all competitions and also took 21 wickets.

Following Maynard's shock death, on a Wimbledon tube line, Hamilton-Brown was granted indefinite compassionate leave from the club. Although he returned in August, he struggled to return to his best form and made what would prove to be his final appearance for the club against Glamorgan in the Tom Maynard Tribute Match on August 21.

Surrey's team director Chris Adams said: “Rory Hamilton-Brown is a talented young cricketer. Achieving promotion and winning the CB40 trophy were both significant achievements and his weight of runs made a big contribution. While at the club, he has also moved a lot a closer to fulfilling his ambitions of playing on the international stage.

“The club has agreed to his request to leave so he can look to make a fresh start elsewhere. On a personal level I would like to wish Rory the best for the future and hope he is able to realise his potential at the highest level.”


Date: 21/09/2012 19:40:00 by MBaldwin
In: Today | Surrey |