Ravi Bopara joins Sussex after 18 years at Essex

The 34-year-old will focus on T20 cricket during the remainder of his career after linking up with Jason Gillespie at Hove

Ravi Bopara has left Essex after 18 years to join Sussex.

The 34-year-old rejected a new and improved contract at Chelmsford, opting to leave the club he made his debut for at 17 years old.

Bopara helped Essex win drove of major honours during his lengthy spell, including last season's momentous County Championship and T20 Blast double.

He made 499 appearances for the club across all formats, scoring 101 half-centuries and 37 hundreds.

The former Test player will focus on T20 going forward after deciding to put red-ball cricket on the back-burner, and harbours hopes of playing for England in next year's World Cup.

"I want to thank Sussex for this opportunity," he said. "It is a great chance to play under a respected and acknowledged coach like Jason Gillespie and with a very strong and talented team of players, many of whom will no doubt go on to receive international honours. 

"On a personal note I have a burning desire to achieve greater things in this wonderful game. I will now put a greater emphasis on T20 cricket. I am fitter and stronger than I have ever been and playing my best cricket. 

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— Ravi Bopara (@ravibopara) October 16, 2019

"I want to emphasise that I am not giving up red-ball cricket but I will, for now, play less of it to find time in the calendar year to up-skill in T20 and take my game to a new level as I still have a drive to play international cricket. 

"Here’s to the future and hopefully another decade of happy and successful times."

Sussex head coach Gillespie added: "I’m really, really excited about having Ravi Bopara join us at Sussex. It’s a bit of a coup for us to be perfectly honest: what a wonderful player Ravi has been for England and Essex for a long, long time. 

"His knowledge and experience are going to be invaluable in our dressing room. He’s a great lad and we’re very thankful that Ravi has decided to join us. Players and coaches alike are excited to work with him and learn from him."