Michael Bevan will not be playing for Sussex next year.

The brilliant Australian, who scored over 2,200 runs for the county this season and finished top of the national averages, says he wants to take some time off after playing non-stop for seven years.

Bevan said today: "I haven't had an off-season since 1993 because of county and club cricket, an Ashes tour and the World Cup.

"But this was the first summer I've really felt that my body couldn't handle playing non-stop all the year round."

Bevan admitted that there were occasions during the season when he put his body on the line for the county.

He has had various niggling injuries including a dislocated shoulder, groin strain and finger problems.

"When I came from South Africa in April my knees were pretty ordinary and it was a tough period," he said.

"I dislocated my finger in Australia and should really have rested for two weeks when I got back and shouldn't have played in the one-dayers against Yorkshire and Gloucestershire.

"They were important games for the side though and I wanted to do my bit and I also had my own personal goals for the season which I wanted to achieve."

Bevan will definitely be back in 2002 when he completes a three-year contract and says he would like to extend his Sussex career beyond then.

He added: "I see myself as Sussex's long-term overseas pro and if the club were to speak to me after 2002 then I would definitely be interested."

Bevan's decision is another hammer blow to Sussex who finished the season bottom of the Championship and relegated to division two of the National League despite Bevan's magnificent contribution.

The committee meet tonight to discuss possible alternatives, but Chief Executive Dave Gilbert says they will have to act quickly.

With an Ashes tour next season, several counties will be looking to replace Australian stars and Sussex don't want to be left behind in the race to sign a high-quality replacement for Bevan.

Gilbert said: "To be honest we've had an idea for the past month that Bev might not be back next year. His success for us has created a lot of interest in Australia and there is a good chance that he would be on the Ashes tour next year anyway.

"He would certainly have missed a month of the season anyway for the triangular one-day tournament.

"We fully respect Bev's decision. Basically the bloke is knackered. He's played almost continuously for seven years and it's caught up on him.

"But no one can say he hasn't made a massive contribution for us this season. It will be almost impossible to replace the sheer weight of runs he has scored, but we will try and look forward to having him back in 2002."

Meanwhile Sussex have confirmed they are not interested in bringing Ed Giddins back to Hove.

Gilbert said: "Ed will definitely not be coming back, strengthening our batting has got to be the priority for next season.

Giddins' wage demands also scuppered any chance of a return to his former county who sacked him in 1997 when he was found guilty of taking drugs.

Giddins is believed to have demanded a six-figure deal to stay at Warwickshire, but they released him yesterday without offering him a new contract after three years at Edgbaston.

He is now available as an uncontested list two registration and Middlesex are favourites to sign the 28-year-old who played three Tests for England including two against Zimbabwe earlier this season.