Ed Giddins has already played for Hampshire - for a second XI that included director of cricket Tim Tremlett.

And 'Trooper' will never forget that July day in 1990, when 18-year-old trialist Giddins fell asleep on the boundary as he waited his turn to bat!

After Giddins was confirmed as Hampshire's latest signing yesterday, Tremlett said: "Peter Sainsbury was in charge of the second team in those days and we all found Ed to be an interesting character.

"After an exhausting day in the field he fell asleep, even though he was due to bat at number seven!

"He couldn't sign for Hampshire because of registration difficulties but we're delighted to have him now.

"Surrey did not want to lose him but they've got one or two bowlers coming through and, as much as they wanted to keep him, he was out of contract at the end of the season."

Eastbourne-born Giddins took 1-71 and 1-54 against Derbyshire II at Northlands Road 12 years ago.

Current Hampshire second XI coach Tony Middleton was also playing, along with Shaun Udal and Adie Aymes.

A year later Giddins made his Sussex debut, the start of one of county cricket's most colourful careers.

Doubts over the legality of his action arose in the mid 1990s and in 1996 Giddins was banned for 18 months after a random drugs test revealed traces of cocaine.

"I've made a few errors of judgement in the past but joining Hampshire is definitely not a mistake," he countered yesterday.

Five years with Sussex and two seasons with both Warwickshire and Surrey have seen Giddins play numerous games against Hampshire in the past.

"I do remember having some good battles with Marshall, Gower and Paul Terry. Robin Smith has smashed me over point on more than one occasion but Mark Nicholas was my bunny, he was a walking wicket as far as I was concerned!"

Giddins has already taken wickets at the Rose Bowl - Will Kendall and James Hamblin in Surrey Lions' three-wicket NUL win in mid- June. "It's a great place to play - I'm looking forward to taking a few wickets and maybe even scoring a couple of runs."

Giddins was making clear reference to a reputation with the willow that won him the nickname of 'Ed the Duck'. But Tremlett is not worried at the prospect of Giddins and Alan Mullally providing cheap wickets down the Hampshire order.

"It's up to the batsmen to make the runs and the bowlers to take the wickets," he said.

Dad-of-one Giddins may not be an all-rounder on the pitch, but off it he certainly is.

He spent one winter selling Christmas trees, another as a topless waiter and was once chosen as one of England's three most eligible bachelors.

"There has always been the perception that I'm not settled but I am, although we'll probably look at moving down from Eastbourne because it took longer than I thought it would to get to the Rose Bowl," he added.

"I became a dad in the summer, I'm a family man now and will be seeing nothing but the inside of a gym for six hours a day this winter.

"That's what I've done for the last three years, there's enough county cricket played as it is, so I don't play during the off season at all."

GIDDINS FACT-FILE:

Born: July 20, 1971 Eastbourne.

Height: 6ft 4in.

Former counties: Sussex (1991-96), Warwickshire (1998-2000), Surrey (2001-02).

England debut: v New Zealand, The Oval, 1999.

Test matches: 4.

First class wickets/average: 465 at 28.44.

Best bowling: 6-47 for Sussex v Yorkshire, Eastbourne 1996.