Banstead cricketer Scott Newman has quit Surrey to join London rivals Middlesex in search of regular first team cricket.

The 29-year-old, who averages more than 40 as an opener in first-class cricket with a top score of 216, brings to a close his nine-year Brown Caps career having been farmed out to Nottinghamshire on-loan last season.

The move is similar to that which took prolific batsman Mark Ramprakash in the opposite direction across London eight years ago and has since seen the former England Test star smash 12,000 runs since arriving at the Oval.

The former Strictly Come Dancing champion averaged 100 with the bat in both 2006 and 2007, before becoming only the 25th man to hit more than 100 first-class centuries last summer.

And Newman, who played twice for Banstead in the Surrey Championship Premier Division this year, will be hoping for a similar improvement in his fortunes.

“In Scott Newman, Middlesex have secured the services of a well respected and vastly experienced county professional,” said Middlesex chief executive Vinny Codrington.

“He has played in over one hundred first-class matches, has close to 7,000 first-class runs to his name, and is the type of player that would have made a huge difference for us last season.

“We’re delighted that Scott has agreed to sign for us and are looking forward to him adding some invaluable experience and seniority to the top of our batting line up.

“Batsmen tend to improve with age and we believe that Scott's best days are ahead of him.”

Surrey won only one Liverpool Victories County Championship Division Two match last season and Newman is keen to put that experience behind him.

He added: “I am relishing the opportunity of establishing my place within the Middlesex side and to playing some regular first team cricket”.