Yorkshire seal Adams deal

Chris Adams © Getty Images

Chris Adams has signed a four-year contract to join Yorkshire as their captain and head of professional cricket.

The 36-year-old former England batsman has left Sussex little more than a month after leading them to their second County Championship title in four seasons.

Sussex confirmed they have agreed terms with Yorkshire to release Derbyshire-born Adams from his contract on the south coast, and his new employers held a press conference at Headingley on Wednesday to unveil their new signing.

Adams, who captained Sussex to the first title in their history in 2003, was frustrated by the lack of a vacancy at Hove which would allow him to further his coaching ambitions.

He revealed his Yorkshire roots played a big part in his decision.

“I am both honoured and delighted to be coming to a county with such history and pedigree,” Adams said.

Adams lifts the championship trophy as Yorkshire battle to avoid the drop © Getty Images

“With my father a born-and-bred Yorkshireman, this exciting opportunity represents a move home for me and my family to a county I have always wanted to play for.

“Without a doubt, I am really looking forward to becoming an integral part of this county’s future success.”

Yorkshire chief executive Stewart Regan added: "Chris Adams is an excellent appointment and demonstrates this club’s ambition and determination to win trophies in county cricket.

"Chris has a first-class track record and his leadership skills, winning mentality and focus are exactly what we need at this point in time.

"The board has taken the decision to provide a focus on both professional cricket and cricket development and we now feel that we have a structure which will deliver what we are looking for in identifying, nurturing and developing cricket talent at all levels of the game.”

Sussex chairman David Green paid tribute to Adams’ achievements with Sussex.

“This is a sad day for the club and all our supporters, but we realise this is a great opportunity for Chris and wish him the very best of luck in his new role,” he said.

“Chris has done wonderful things for the club and has helped lay a solid foundation on which to build, and we look forward to embracing the new challenges the 2007 season will bring.”

Yorkshire have offered David Byas a lower-profile post

Adams joins Yorkshire at an intriguing point in the club's history.

They have lost the retired Darren Lehmann and fellow left-handed middle-order batsman Michael Lumb from the team which narrowly escaped relegation from Division One of the championship this year.

While Sussex were clinching their title at Trent Bridge in September, Yorkshire were scrambling the points they needed against Durham to avoid the drop.

Former England A batsman Lumb is their most recent departure, having decided to join Hampshire for “purely cricketing reasons”, while Anthony McGrath is in talks with the club after expressing concerns over his future.

It is against this background that veteran Adams returns to the north as one of two new high-profile signings, following last week’s acquisition of Pakistan vice-captain Younis Khan as Yorkshire’s first overseas signing from that country.

Adams’ arrival casts doubt on the future of director of cricket David Byas, who has been offered a new post - with significantly reduced powers - in charge of cricket development. He is expected to make a decision shortly.