Why Batter Tom Alsop Left Sussex For Gloucestershire

Family security drives Tom Alsop’s major county cricket move.

Alsop Leaves Sussex

Top-order batter Tom Alsop has officially signed a three-year deal with Gloucestershire, after five years at his beloved Hove. The thirty-year-old makes a bit of a lucrative move ahead of the county game resuming for the club, as he prepares to depart in the autumn.

Financial Problems

The move comes after Sussex were placed in special measures by the England and Wales Cricket Board, with head coach Paul Farbrace admitting it was a financial burden for the club, and players had to look elsewhere for alternative work.

The Exodus From Hove

It’s not a move that fans down in Sussex will be too fond of either, as the county looks to be in the grip of a mass exodus, with the likes of Henry Crocombe and Fynn Hudson-Prentice already leaving, and more to follow.

The current financial climate has seen several restrictions placed on the county as they seek to plug holes in their budget while still attempting to build championship-challenging squads in the years ahead.

Departure For Security

The new signing, who is set to depart later this year, admits it wasn’t an easy decision as a player, but one he needed to make in the best interests of his family.

He was very reluctant to leave Sussex and was clearly heavy-hearted about his decision, having spent five great years at the club, but he felt he had little choice given the uncertainty around the club’s finances and his need to look after his family.

Closer To Home

While the news may be bittersweet for him, being a long-standing member of the club, he can’t deny the move to Gloucestershire does have its benefits.

Having played and batted in all conditions for the county, he’ll now be able to have the opportunity to return closer to home in Bristol, having grown up in Wiltshire, with the new club based just a stone’s throw from his roots in the West Country. That was a big factor in his decision-making process, as he looks to settle down now.

Great Club Vision

The county are clearly delighted to sign the new batter on a three-year deal, with director of cricket Jon Lewis hailing his qualities with the bat in all forms of the game.

The club management sold him a compelling vision of the future, as they look to strengthen their squad for the years ahead, with their newly signed batter believing he’ll have a big role to play as he becomes further integrated into their plans.

Stats Tell The Tale

Look at his stats, and you’ll see that there’s little surprise that he’s in such demand from the likes of Worcestershire in recent seasons. Having averaged a very decent thirty-seven with the bat in first-class cricket for Sussex this season, he’s scored six well-deserved centuries.

While he only made two County Championship appearances this season, his red-ball credentials remain as strong as ever.

White-ball Credentials

That’s not to say he’s limited to the traditional game, as he’s a very accomplished player in the shorter formats and has plenty of franchise experience, having appeared numerous times in competitions like the Hundred and Big Bash League, with his versatility with the bat making him an asset for any aggressive run-chasing required in a limited-overs match.

Experience Counts

Having tested his skills against some of the best T20 bowmen in the world in the ILT20, he knows what it takes to play at the very top level in this era of the game, and that experience will be invaluable for the club.

Players like him are precisely what clubs like Gloucestershire need if they are to begin competing at the very top with a winning mentality.

Looking Ahead

With the county season set to reach its climax in the coming weeks, both clubs can look ahead to the future knowing they’ve made a smart move. Sussex will need to make many shrewd financial decisions if they are to make life easier ahead of future transfer windows, while Alsop looks ahead to his new challenge.

He’ll no doubt bring his experience and determination to the table for his new club when he puts on that new shirt next season.