Sussex have signed former England opening batsman Ian Ward from Surrey.

Ward, who celebrated his 30th birthday yesterday, has joined the new county champions on a four-year contract.

The left-hander, who made the last of his five Test appearances in 2001, left Surrey after nine years at the Oval at the end of the season, having helped them win three Championships and four one-day titles.

He was coveted by nine other counties but opted for Sussex after a meeting with director of cricket Peter Moores, who coached Ward on and England A tour in 2000.

He admitted the decision to come to Hove was not a difficult one to make.

He said: "For cricketing, family and personal reasons Sussex fitted the bill perfectly.

"It was a big decision to leave Surrey, but I'd become stale there. Hopefully joining Sussex can re-invigorate my cricket because I'm still ambitious to win more trophies and I desperately want to get my England place back."

Moores said: "It's a fantastic signing for us.

"I would say he is a batting equivalent of James Kirtley in that he is a proven performer day in, day out who works hard at his game and still has huge ambitions to play for his country again."

Ward has scored nearly 7,000 first-class runs including 17 centuries, one of which was made against Sussex at the Oval in June.