Joe Gatting signs for Sussex

After impressing Sussex during the pre-season Pro Arch tournament in Dubai, Joe Gatting has signed a two-year contract with the club, keeping him at the Hove until the end of the 2010 season.

Joe, 21, is the nephew of the former England captain Mike Gatting. He had originally been selected on the club's Academy Plus scheme, but his hard work and dedication over the winter culminated an impressive 110 against a strong Surrey side in Abu Dhabi.

"This is a great opportunity for me," said Gatting. "It was the right time to call it a day with football and concentrate fully on cricket. I have thoroughly enjoyed the winter training with the first team squad and was pleased with my performance in Abu Dhabi. I am looking forward to what promises to be a very exciting season."

Mark Robinson, Sussex CCC Professional Cricket Manager, said: "Joe has worked with the squad this winter and earned the right to travel with the first team squad to Abu Dhabi. He continued to look at total ease within the environment and capped it all off by playing the innings of the tournament, of any team, against Surrey in scoring 110.

"We are all excited by the prospect of watching his career develop at Hove."