Hampshire CCC unveiled former England bowler Ed Giddins as their latest signing at The Rose Bowl this morning.

Giddins, 31, is out of contract after two years with county champions Surrey, for whom he played six championship games last season.

Hampshire director of cricket Tim Tremlett revealed that a fast bowler to share the workload with Alan Mullally, Chris Tremlett, Dimi Mascarenhas and James Tomlinson was a must towards the end of last season.

And Giddins fits the bill.

He played the last of his four Tests two years ago, taking 12 wickets at an average of 20, including a haul of 5-15 in a man of the match performance against Zimbabwe at Lord's in 2000.

That was his finest hour.

His worst was in August 1996, when he was banned from the first class game for 18 months after a small amount of cocaine was found in his blood during a random drugs test.

Giddins played for Sussex at the time but a move to Warwickshire followed in 1998.

He left Edgbaston after failing to agree a salary package in 2000 and his championship appearances with Surrey were limited by the array of seam bowling talent at The Oval. Last season, he played just six games, taking 19 wickets at 36 runs apiece.

But since making his debut for Sussex 11 years ago, he has taken 465 first class wickets at an average of 28. Now based in Eastbourne, where he was born, his girlfriend gave birth to their first child earlier this year.

Giddins today said: "I have had two great years at Surrey but, once Hampshire showed an interest in me, I could see the potential at the club.

"I want to be able to look back next September on a season where we have won promotion in the championship and one-day league and I have contributed a number of match-winning performances."

Former Australia Test batsman Mark Waugh turned down the chance to sign for Hampshire during the summer, according to reports in the national press over the weekend.