Former Kent batsman Matthew Walker has put pen to paper on a two-year contract to take him to Essex.

Released by Kent 12 days ago to put an end to his 16-year association with St Lawrence, the left-hander will now ply his trade in Division 2 of the county championship - where he may come up against his former team-mates in 2009 should Kent be relegated.

Commenting on the move, 34-year-old Walker said: "I always felt my future lay here and the way I wanted it to pan out was that I would finish my career here, but that doesn't always happen. I'm not the first to be released at Kent and I certainly won't be the last.

"This has been my second home and I've loved playing for Kent, but at this club people seem to think your time is running out when you get to a benefit year and that maybe you've already done your best work.

"I don't feel that way and by no means am I jumping ship or moving on for a better contract, it's just that I want to keep on playing cricket. I still feel I have plenty to offer and after all it's my job, just because I've been sacked doesn't mean I should give up playing and working."

Walker's release earlier in the month was followed within 24 hours by news that 24-year-old right-handed batsman Neil Dexter was rejecting a three-year contract offer from Kent in order to move to Middlesex.