In one of the most surprising moves in English county cricket this close season, former Yorkshire captain David Byas announced that he was crossing the border to join arch-rivals Lancashire for the 2002 campaign.

Byas, 38, captained Yorkshire to their first County Championship title in 33 years last season and then announced his retirement from first-class cricket. It seemed as if he would then be devoting himself to the family farm but Lancashire have persuaded him to cross the border.

Byas said: "I was happily retired after a very enjoyable career at Yorkshire culminating in championship success last season - but after a little persuading I see the prospect as an exciting challenge.

"I'm looking forward to joining up with the squad and I hope my experience will complement the promising younger players at the club."

Lancashire coach Mike Watkinson said Byas' arrival ought to add much-needed depth to the county's batting. "I hope the signing of David will provide some experienced competition at the top of the batting order," Watkinson explained.

"The retirement of Michael Atherton along with Neil Fairbrother's injury problems have left us looking a little thin in this area. Although we are firmly committed to developing the best young players within the county, the services of David will help provide some short-term stability to the squad."

Lancashire could do with an experienced batsman especially as former England Test player John Crawley remains determined to leave the club after being stripped of the captaincy at the end of last year's disappointing season.

Historically, the rivalry between Yorkshire and Lancashire has been the most intense within English cricket. While players have turned out for both clubs in the past, this is the first instance in living memory of a captain of one team joining the other side.

Former Yorkshire batsman and Test match umpire Dickie Bird said he was stunned by the news. "I am just shocked and stunned. I am very, very surprised," said Bird, who still lives in Yorkshire.

"Once he had retired I really did think that would be it. I just did not think that David would want to play for any other county," added Bird who himself moved from Yorkshire to Leicestershire, although that was because he could not command a regular place in the 1st XI at Headingley.

"The only thing I can think is that he thinks he is going to miss his county cricket after all. He announced that he wanted to give his full career to farming. He seems to have had a real re-think. This is a bolt out of the blue," Bird commented.

Byas' move is bound to raise eyebrows elsewhere in Yorkshire. When England fast bowler Darren Gough hinted that he was thinking of leaving the county, Byas said the club would be better off without him. After being heavily criticised in Gough's autobiography, Byas said in December: "Basically, he's (Gough's) not worth bothering with because Yorkshire won the title without him.

"He played in two games and made little contribution with the ball."

As it transpired Gough, who was widely tipped for a move, is staying put and it is Byas who will be playing elsewhere next season.

Although never selected for the England Test team, many judges thought Byas unlucky not to be given an opportunity during a 15-year career with Yorkshire that saw him amass 14,398 first-class runs at 35.37 including 28 hundreds.

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd