Essex vs Sussex

Sussex head to Chelmsford this week as they enter the final month of the Rothesay County Championship season.

Paul Farbrace's side added 12 points to their tally in Division One last week after a draw against Somerset at Hove. The contest was finely poised after a closely fought first two days, but day three's washout put any realistic chances of a result out of the question. Somerset had built a lead of just over 300 when they declared with 44 overs remaining in the match, but with Sussex just one wicket down in the evening session, and with more rain around, the teams shook hands shortly after 4.30pm.

Henry Crocombe starred in the first innings, completing his second five-wicket haul with a first career hat-trick to wrap up the Somerset innings. He still remains as Sussex's top wicket-taker, with 33 wickets to his name and is sixth for the most wickets in Division One.

Sussex remain fifth in the table, with 120 points, putting them 28 points behind the Division One leaders Nottinghamshire, and 18 points above Leicestershire in the relegation zone.

Team News

Six matches in six weeks over this last block of Rothesay County Championship matches means that Paul Farbrace is forced to rotate his seam bowlers. Jaydev Unadkat won't make the trip to Chelmsford for that reason, however Dom Goodman returns in his place.

Squad: Carson, Carter, Clark, Coles, Crocombe, Evison, Goodman, Haines, Hughes, Hunt, Karvelas, Leaning, Simpson, Tear.

The Opposition

Essex were denied victory last week by some heroics from Ben Foakes of Surrey. After the second day of the contest, Surrey were four wickets down in their second innings and still trailing by 45 runs. But, like at Hove, day three was washed out without a ball bowled. On the final day, Foakes was Surrey's hero as he scored a magnificent century to help salvage the draw.

So, Essex had to settle for 12 points as they remain one point behind Sussex, in sixth, ahead of tomorrow's clash.

Sam Cook, the Division's fourth highest wicket-taker claimed another five wickets during the clash against Surrey, taking his total to 36 for the campaign. 

Tickets

Tickets for all four days are available here.

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