Andrew Hodd returned to Sussex after his Surrey exile today admitting: "It's great to be back home."

The 21-year-old wicketkeeper-batsmen left the county in 2003 because of a lack of opportunities at Hove.

But the departure of Tim Ambrose to Warwickshire created a vacancy and Hodd, who played all his youth cricket with Sussex, is delighted to be back.

He turned down the offer of a new two-year contract at Surrey and has signed for Sussex for two years.

He said: "I suppose I left thinking the grass was going to be greener at Surrey but I ended up taking for granted what I'd grown up with here - the work ethic, the professionalism of the squad and the management.

"I must admit when I heard Tim might be leaving I hoped something would happen and when the club came in for me it wasn't a hard decision to make."

Hodd failed to dislodge Jon Batty at The Oval and played just two first-class games for Surrey.

And even when Surrey's one-day side was struggling last season he still did not get the opportunities he had hoped for.

But with Prior pressing for England honours, Chichester-born Hodd believes he will get more opportunities with Sussex.

"I rate Matt as the best 'keeper-batsman in the country," said Hodd. "I've worked with him a fair bit and he's a special talent who has worked hard and had an awesome couple of years.

"If he plays for England then that should give me a chance but the priority for me next season is to get my game back where it should be.

"I wouldn't say I've stood still in the last couple of years. I know what my game is about, I think I'm a natural wicketkeeper but in terms of batting there is still improvement to be made."

Cricket manager Mark Robinson is delighted with the return of a player Sussex regard as one of their own.

He said: "We know Hoddy well and he knows how we operate and he comes back to us at a good age where he can still do a lot of improving."

Sussex's close-season rebuilding of the squad is now complete.

Oxford UCCE seamer Tim Linley, who played five second XI games last season, has been offered a one-year contract which he should sign next week and Robinson has already confirmed that they have no plans to replace opener Ian Ward, who retired last week to work full-time for Sky Sports.

But the money saved on Ward's contract - which still had two years to run - will enable Sussex to recruit a top quality overseas bowler should they need cover for Rana Naved in the second half of the summer when Pakistan are touring England.

Meanwhile, Mushtaq Ahmed believes three successful seasons with the county are a big factor in his return to the international arena.

The leg spinner and county team-mate Rana Naved ul-Hasan have both been named in Pakistan's 16-man squad for the first Test against England which starts on November 12.

Mushtaq could return to international cricket two years after the last of his 52 Test appearances.

"I enjoyed great success in county cricket with Sussex and that has boosted my morale," he said. "Above all, a lot of confidence has been given to me by Inzamamul Haq and the selectors."