NEW signing Umer Rashid is hoping to team-up with Indian legend Bishan Bedi as he prepares for life with Sussex.

The 22-year-old left-arm spinner, who signed a two-year contract on Tuesday, flew to India last month to fix-up one-to-one coaching with Bedi who took 266 Test wickets.

But Bedi had flown to Canada to play in a veteran's tournament, although Rashid hopes to return to Delhi before linking-up with his new county next March.

"I've spoken to Bish and know him quite well and he's a brilliant teacher, I hope I can learn a lot from him when I get out there," said Rashid, who recently graduated from South Bank University with a business degree.

Frustrated at playing understudy to Phil Tufnell, Rashid had little hesitation in joining Sussex once Middlesex had agreed to release his registration.

He played in just two first-class games for the county he joined in 1995 but made several appearances in limited overs cricket and played for England under-19s against South Africa.

"It's the ideal opportunity for me," he added. "I feel I have something to offer in first-class cricket and Sussex are a go-ahead county who are on the verge of good things.

"It will be great playing with guys like Chris Adams and Michael Bevan and I know quite a few of the lads already which helps when you are settling in. I'm not setting any targets just yet, all I want to do initially is get fit and take my chance when it comes."

Cricket manager Peter Moores is delighted with their new signing whom he first became aware of 18 months after he scored 35 and took 1-33 to help the Combined Universities beat Sussex in a Benson and Hedges Cup tie.

Moores said: "I felt he had something then and we've kept tabs on him since. He has stagnated in second team cricket at Middlesex but he has a lot to offer.

"It means, with Justin Bates, that we now have two young spinners to work with. Neither are the finished article but both are keen to learn and want to do well in the game. At 6ft 2in, Umer is quite tall for a spinner but he's got nice variety and his height enables him to get extra bounce."

He completes a trio of new signings at Sussex following the capture of opening bat Richard Montgomerie from Northants and Glamorgan's Tony Cottey.

The Welshmen are poised to sign Keith Newell as his replacement. Newell, who left Sussex with brother Mark at the end of the season, is having talks with Glamorgan captain Matthew Maynard in Sydney, where he is playing club cricket, and is expected to sign by the end of the week.

Meanwhile Kent are believed to be interested in signing Mark.

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