Essex’s latest eagle has landed – and Scott Styris is expected to make a major impact.

The New Zealand all-rounder will make his debut against Surrey Lions at The Oval in the Friends Provident t20 on Thursday.

And, with Essex having lost their opening FP t20 match against Kent, he will hope to kick-start them into action.

“It was Graham Gooch who rang me to see if I would be interested in a stint with Essex,” he said. “This happened once Yusuf Pathan became unavailable.

“I have always enjoyed playing in England and thought it would be good fun.

“I've always been an aggressive batsman and I hope that continues. As a bowler I just try and make the batsman hit the ball to areas of the ground I want him to.”

Styris, 34, is a vastly experienced international player, who started his career as a bowler who could bat before a knee injury forced him into taking batting more seriously and he became more of a batsman who could bowl.

He retired from Test cricket in 2008, but has continued to play international one-day cricket and featured in the World Twenty20 Cup last month in the Caribbean where New Zealand reached the Super Eights stage before being eliminated by England.

He scored 31 runs from just 19 deliveries in that match, and also dismissed Ravi Bopara.

“It was great fun playing in the World Twenty20, the wickets there suited the way I bowl nowadays but they were tough to score on in the main,” he said.

“I’ve traditionally done well in the Caribbean and I love playing cricket in that part of the world.”

“Getting Ravi (Bopara) out at the World Cup was great. I told him beforehand that once I get him out I’m never going to let him live it down.

“He was a team mate of mine at Auckland and he was great fun. He gave me a good going away present in his last game for us as he let all my tyres down on my car!

“I think I owe him big time. Graham Napier has played in New Zealand for a couple of seasons now and done well.

Styris is familiar with a few of his new team-mates, having featured in county cricket for Durham and Middlesex.

“I have also played against Grant Flower, (Alastair) Cook and Ryan (ten Doeschate) a bit internationally and Chris Wright was a team mate at Middlesex when I played there,” he said.

“I’ve always enjoyed my battles with Essex in the past and it’ll be good to be on the other side of the fence.”

He will remain with Essex until the end of the group stage of the FP t20 which ends on Sunday, July 18.