Ed Giddins, finished with first-class cricket at 32, has turned to golf and plans to make a career hitting the small ball instead bowling flat out.

Giddins wants to hone his game to the level required by the minor tours for the next two years.

He has a handicap of eight at East Sussex National and has already played in Euro Pro events as an amateur.

A big help is elder brother Charlie being the professional at Beauport Park and Ed has partnered him in a few pro-ams to get the feel of competitive golf.

Ed, who played for Sussex, Warwickshire, Surrey and Hampshire, gained four England caps and the highlight of his career was taking 5-15 against Zimbabwe at Lord's.

He called it a day with Hampshire last month.

Eastbourne-born and a product of the town's college, he soon gained a reputation on the county circuit as a single-minded guy and no mean paceman.

He said: "When I put my mind to something I work on it 100 per cent. Mind you, I'm not looking to knock Tiger off his perch but I am looking to earn a decent living maybe by about 2005."

Until then Giddins will only work at his game.

He was at Cooden Beach yesterday playing in a Sussex PGU event and almost every day of the week can be found on the driving range at ESN.

Giddins said: "If I am playing well I can play to level par and in two years I aim to get five strokes off that."

Charlie testified to his brother's long hitting, saying: "He knocks it a very long way indeed."

Ideally, Ed needs to make a mark in the amateur ranks, just as Charlie did when starting out as a junior at Willingdon.

But time is not on his side and he needs a crash course to fast track his way to even the wannabe tours.

He said: "I shall not be working for the next couple of years. Instead, I will be putting everything into playing golf and practising.

"Playing cricket did not allow me much time to concentrate on golf but I see this as a fresh challenge and it is one that I am determined to meet head on."