Gloucestershire sign keeper Batty

Batty spent 12 years with Surrey, captaining them in 2004

Gloucestershire have signed Surrey wicketkeeper Jonathan Batty on a three-year deal.

The 35-year-old, who can also open the batting, moves to Nevil Road in the wake of fellow keeper Steve Adshead's departure from the club.

Gloucestershire director of cricket John Bracewell said: "I have no doubt that Jonathan is the missing link between the first and second division.

"His ability to bat anywhere gives us flexibility in all competitions."

After beginning his career with Hampshire, Batty signed for Surrey in 1997.

606: DEBATE

The Batty option may be viable in Championship cricket as he can open as well as slot in the middle order

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He succeeded Adam Hollioake as captain at The Oval at the end of 2003 but was replaced by Mark Butcher after just one season in the job.

Batty has scored almost 9000 runs at an average of 34.80 and has taken 500 catches in first-class cricket.

In May 2004, he equalled the world record of eight catches in an innings in a County Championship match against Kent.

His departure from The Oval seemed likely following England wicketkeeper Steven Davies' move from Worcestershire.

"It is an exciting opportunity to take on a new challenge," said Batty.

"I am looking forward to joining up with John Bracewell, Jack Russell [coach] and the Gloucestershire team. I still think I've got a lot of cricket in my legs. There's a lot of things I want to achieve career wise and I want to help Gloucestershire become successful again."

However, Batty also admits that it was hard to leave Surrey.

"It has been an amazing 13 years at Surrey. It's been quite a long period of soul searching, working out what was going to be the best thing for me to do, and it has been a tough decision in the end.

"You look back on the early days when I first came into the side in 1997 when Dave Gilbert was coach, Adam Hollioake was skipper and I was playing alongside Alec Stewart, Graham Thorpe, the Hollioake brothers the Bicknell brothers. They are great memories," Batty added.

"Then you move on to 1999 and the first Championship victory. That was incredible and those memories will live with me forever. Not just that season but the celebrations afterwards and an incredible period of success."