AUSTRALIAN Rob Quiney’s surroundings and responsibilities at Essex will be a world apart to a previous engagement as an overseas player in this country.

The 30-year-old Victorian flew into Heathrow at 6am on Tuesday to arrive in time for the county’s annual pre-season Media Day.

Quiney, who appeared in two Tests for Australia against South Africa last November, played at Battle in East Sussex for two seasons just after the turn of the century.

“The ground was so small that if you hit a six it only counted for four!” recalled Quiney on a fresh morning at the Essex County Ground in Chelmsford.

One of Quiney’s ambitions was a stint in county cricket and he was contacted by Essex after making himself available.

He said: “Essex were happy to have me on board and I was more than happy to come, so as soon as they said they wanted me, I said yes.”

Quiney will be looking to rediscover the form that saw him score 938 Sheffield Shield runs at an average of 49.38 and be voted Australian domestic cricketer of the year in 2011/12 prior to making his Test debut.

“Last season was probably my worst season in the last three or four years,” he said. “It is going to be a great challenge, especially the first month or two.”

Quiney is a close friend of Australian batsman Chris Rogers, who is the overseas player at Middlesex.

“We caught the same flight from Hong Kong to Heathrow, although we didn’t know it.

“He has been great with me giving me tips, but at the end of the day you have to work it out for yourself.”