KENT all-rounder Mark Ealham has confirmed that he is to join Nottinghamshire at the start of next season.

The move signals the end of a 15-year playing career at Kent, during which time he represented England in eight Test matches and 64 one-day internationals.

Mike Denness, Kent's chairman of cricket, said: "We are obviously very sad that Mark will be leaving us after such a long and distinguished career with the club, during which time he has made a significant contribution to Kent.

"We had hoped to persuade him to end his playing days here, but the security of a three-year contract and an exciting challenge with Nottinghamshire, is a decision which we respect and we wish him well.

"For our part, we must move on and look forward to next season as we continue to look to strengthen our playing squad to meet the challenges of 2004 and beyond."

Ealham, who had reached the end of his existing two-year contract, had been holding talks since the end of the season with Denness, chief executive Paul Millman, and club captain David Fulton, but a deal could not be brokered.

Ealham, 34, wanted a contract that would keep him at the club where he and his father, Alan, had jointly served since 1965, for the rest his playing career.

But Kent have experienced problems in the past with giving long-term deals to senior players. They offered Ealham a 12-month contract, with negotiable rollovers for further years, which the player turned down.

Ealham has just had a successful benefit season, showed improved performances last summer and enjoyed his best campaign with the bat since 1997 by scoring 911 runs at an average of 36. His 38 wickets, at 26 runs each, were his best bowling return for four years.

Notts will be hoping Ealham can help spearhead a revival after a poor summer in which too many of their players under-performed. They suffered county championship relegation, but are now looking to bounce back into the big-time at the first attempt.

Ealham is their third summer signing following experienced Worcestershire batsman Anurag Singh and Middlesex wicketkeeper David Alleyne.