Brown leaves Hampshire for Surrey

Brown has become frustrated by a lack of one-day cricket at Hampshire

Opening batsman Michael Brown has left Hampshire to play for newly-relegated Surrey in the 2009 season.

The 28-year-old was known to be unhappy by his lack of first-team opportunities in one-day cricket at Hampshire.

"People's perceptions were that I wasn't a one-day cricketer and it's very difficult to change that," the ex-Middlesex man told BBC Radio Solent.

Brown joined Hampshire in 2004 and was voted the county's Batsman of the Year by his team-mates two years running.

"To go to a club where I can start afresh and, hopefully, get selected on my one-day merits and play in all forms of the game is appealing," he added.

"It was a difficult decision leaving Hampshire though. I've been very happy for five years at the Rose Bowl and have been part of a pretty successful side on the whole. I have a lot of friends there.

"But when it came down to a cricketing decision, I really wanted to be available for four different competitions."