OPENING batsman Varun Chopra has left Essex and signed a three-year deal with Warwickshire. The 22-year-old Ilford batsman had been offered a two-year contract at Chelmsford, but decided that his future lay elsewhere, and has moved to Edgbaston. I would

OPENING batsman Varun Chopra has left Essex and signed a three-year deal with Warwickshire.

The 22-year-old Ilford batsman had been offered a two-year contract at Chelmsford, but decided that his future lay elsewhere, and has moved to Edgbaston.

"I would like to thank everyone at Essex for all of their support during my time with the club and in particular special thanks to Paul Grayson and Graham Gooch," said Chopra, who was born in Barking.

"In addition I would like to personally thank all of the Essex supporters, players and staff.

"I have grown up at the club having come through the youth set-up, so the decision to leave is one of the hardest I have ever had to make.

"However, I am hugely excited about the new challenge in front of me and look forward to returning to Chelmsford next year with Warwickshire."

First team coach Paul Grayson added: "This is obviously a disappointment to Essex.

"We had offered Varun a two-year contract as he is a talented player and an Essex boy.

"Myself and the club have done a lot of work with him over the last three-to-four years.

"Varun was asking things that we could not guarantee him for next year.

"He feels his County Championship cricket has not developed as much as he would have liked and wishes to set himself a new challenge out of his current comfort zone.

"He obviously goes with our respect and blessing.

"He was a popular member of the dressing room and a pleasure to work with.

"This represents an opportunity for him to develop with another excellent county."

Former England under-19 captain Chopra played 10 County Championship matches this season, scoring 385 runs at an average of 21.38, but didn't make a century, with a top score of just 85.