Ed Joyce has stepped down as Sussex captain.

Joyce has decided to relinquish the role he has held since taking over from Mike Yardy towards the end of the 2012 season following relegation from division one of the Championship.

Sussex have yet to name a replacement for the Ireland batsman but Luke Wright will be favourite having led the Sharks to the quarter-finals of the NatWest T20 Blast during the summer.

Joyce, 37, will continue to play for Sussex next season as they bid to bounce straight back to division one.

He said: " My increasing commitments with Ireland and the stage in my career that I'm at meant that the job this year became more a burden than a challenge to be relished.

"So the time is definitely right to hand over the reins to a new captain and whoever that is will have my full support.

"I'm also very determined to get back to scoring lots of runs and helping us back into the first division of the championship and to performing much better in white-ball cricket."

Wright is among the frontrunners to replace Joyce but vice-captain Chris Nash has filled in for Joyce when he has been on Ireland duty over the last three years.

Sussex have said they will a new captain for the Championship and Royal London One Day Cup "in due course".

Coach Mark Robinson said: "I’d like to thank Ed for all of his hard work and dedication that he has put into the job.

"He has always led the team with great integrity and commitment and I’m sure that the new captain will appreciate having a player of the stature of Ed to be able to lean on for advice and support.”