MIDDLESEX star Ed Joyce is expected to join Sussex next season, just four months after leading the Lord s-based outfit to their first trophy for 15 years. The 30-year-old Irishman took over the captaincy in June when former skipper Ed Smith was injured sh

MIDDLESEX star Ed Joyce is expected to join Sussex next season, just four months after leading the Lord's-based outfit to their first trophy for 15 years.

The 30-year-old Irishman took over the captaincy in June when former skipper Ed Smith was injured shortly before the start of their successful Twenty20 Cup campaign.

The victory earned Middlesex a place in the lucrative Stanford Cup series, played in Antigua last week. While there Joyce told chief executive Vinny Coddrington of his intention to leave the club after the Champions League in December.

"[Ed] was always one of the first names on the team-sheet. He has been outstanding and undoubtedly we are going to miss him," said Coddrington.

"We agreed with Ed back in September that he would be available for both Antigua and the Champions League whatever his decision as he was an integral part of our successful 2008 Twenty20 campaign. He leaves with our best wishes.