Tom Reeves reports as the young talent makes the switch to the seaside…
Sussex have unveiled the signing of ex-University of East London student and left-arm seamer Tymal Mills.
Mills, 22, chose to sign for Sussex ahead of a number of other counties chasing his signature after his departure from Essex following the 2014 season.
“I’m really pleased to be on board,” he said in a statement.
“I’m looking forward to moving down here, getting stuck in this winter and going strong next year.”
Mills, who can regularly bowl over 90mph, toured Sri Lanka with the England Lions earlier this calendar year.
On a potential England call-up in the future, he admitted: “A lot of people have spoken about me in that kind of light. I probably haven’t lived up to that in the last couple of years.
“But I just want to distance myself from that a little bit now and just focus on my move here and taking wickets.”
He took 76 wickets in his 59 first-team matches for Essex after he progressed through the club’s academy.
The highly-rated pace bowler’s career stuttered last season, as he was restricted to 12 first-team matches through injury.
However, Mills said, “Obviously, this year, it wasn’t ideal for me in terms of my injuries but they look to be behind me now.”
The pace bowler also added why he chose Sussex with a host of other sides interested in his services, explaining: “As soon as Sussex came in for me, I knew it was a county that I wanted to join.
“I’m really glad it is all finalised.”
Mills has joined Sussex on a two-year contract, which will keep him at the county until at least the end of the 2016 campaign.