With the Middlesex CCC players and staff still sunning themselves on a beach in Barbados following an unsuccessful Stanford Series, there was precious little reaction available to Ed Joyce's defection to Sussex. But our man in the know at Lord's, JON BATHAM, gives us the inside track.
THE SILENCE over Ed Joyce's future was finally broken this week when Middlesex announced he was leaving them for Sussex.
One of the Seaxes' favourite sons had been holding a 'shall I, shan't I' debate with himself for most of the 2008 campaign, an indecision which led to him being asked to relinquish his role as acting captain in August for fear of undermining team confidence.
Middlesex and Joyce's recent involvement in the Stanford Super Series in Antigua means the Irish-born left-hander has yet to officially sign with the Sharks.
His contract there will be for the 2009 season, so Joyce will still be around for the Twenty20 Champions League in December.
And according to the player himself, his newly adopted county have asked him to keep mum in terms of interviews about why he jumped ship until the ink on the contract is wet.
So why did the decision take so long and why was now the right time for the 30-year-old to go?
Joyce is a fiercely ambitious cricketer who had made no secret of his desire to be a captain and to regain international status with England, last held at the ill-fated World Cup in the West Indies in 2007.
On the first count he wasn't going to regain the Middlesex captaincy following incoming director of cricket Angus Fraser's recommendation that Shaun Udal should keep the job for 2009.
So it is believed the Middlesex stalwart's move to Hove may have been prompted by the thought playing in Division One of County Championship may bring him back to the attention of England selector Geoff Miller and company.
It is also believed Joyce had struggled to find his best form in 2008 often as the one experienced hand of the Seaxes top six, surrounded by, albeit very talented, early 20 somethings.
Joyce made his Middlesex debut in 1997 and averaged just under 45 in 127 first-class matches for the County.
He began his international career with Ireland scoring 758 runs in 14 ICC one-day internationals at an average of 84.22
However he threw his hat in with England after qualifying through residency in 2005, and has played 17 one-day internationals, making his highest score of 107 against Australia in Sydney in February 2007.
