Squad announced for Middlesex and Glamorgan away trips

A 13-man squad will travel to Lord’s and Sophia Gardens for Sussex Sharks’ Vitality Blast fixtures against Middlesex and Glamorgan on Thursday and Friday evening.

Stuart Meaker and Harrison Ward are included.  A 21-year-old Academy graduate, Ward has signed a rookie contract with Sussex until the end of the Vitality Blast group stage. The batsman will also be available for LV= Insurance County Championship fixtures during this period.

Harrison Ward is in line for a first team debut 

A total of eight Sussex players are currently self-isolating and therefore unavailable for selection. This includes Henry Crocombe, Delray Rawlins and Ollie Robinson who had been named in the original squad for Sussex’s previous Blast fixture, Tuesday’s abandoned match against Kent Spitfires.

Chris Jordan is recovering from a groin injury sustained during last Sunday’s match against Surrey. He will travel with the squad in a support role, however.

George Garton is part of England’s squad for the current Royal London ODI series against Sri Lanka.

Despite having five of their previous six matches abandoned due to the weather, the Sharks are in a strong position in the South Group. The team sit in fourth with eleven points from nine matches, a point behind Gloucestershire and two behind Kent and Surrey who have played an extra one and two games respectively.

The South Group table ahead of Thursday night's fixtures

Sussex squad:

Luke Wright (captain), Will Beer, Ravi Bopara, Oli Carter, Mitch Claydon, Travis Head (overseas, Australia), Archie Lenham, Stuart Meaker, Tymal Mills, Phil Salt, Aaron Thomason, Harrison Ward, David Wiese (overseas, South Africa)

Middlesex

Coach Stuart Law’s team have endured a difficult campaign so far, with just two wins and five points from their nine matches. A superior net run-rate lifts them above bottom side, Hampshire.

Middlesex’s last completed fixture was a win, however, with Stevie Eskinazi’s unbeaten 91 from 56 balls leading the side to a seven-wicket victory over Glamorgan at Radlett on Sunday. Prior to that, the North Londoners has suffered four successive defeats. There only other win came against Hampshire in their third match of the tournament, also at Radlett.

Eskinazi has been by far Middlesex’s top-performer with the bat. His 327 runs in eight innings at a strike-rate of 137.97. Only three players have more runs than the 27-year-old in this year’s tournament.

Eskinazi has scores of 91*, 64 and 102* not out in his last three innings

Steven Finn is Middlesex’s top wicket taker, with 13. But the tall seamer has been expensive, conceding an average of 9.21 runs per over so far in the tournament.

Australian overseas player, Chris Green took 10 wickets in his seven appearances in this year’s Blast but has now been replaced by another off-spinner in Mujeeb Ur Rahman. The Afghan started his stint with a tidy performance in the win over Glamorgan, taking 1 for 23 from his four overs.

Squad: Steven Finn (captain), Martin Andersson, Joe Cracknell, Blake Cullen, Stephen Eskinazi, Nick Gubbins, Tom Helm, Max Holden, Luke Hollman, Daryl Mitchell, John Simpson, Nathan Sowter, Mujeeb ur Rahman (overseas, Afghanistan)

Starting XI in previous fixture: Joe Cracknell, Stephen Eskinazi, Nick Gubbins, Daryl Mitchell, John Simpson+, Max Holden, Luke Hollman, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Nathan Sowter, Tom Helm, Steven Finn*

Glamorgan

Glamorgan are seventh in the South Group with eight points from their three wins, five defeats and two no results so far. They play Essex Eagles at Chelmsford on Thursday evening, ahead of Sussex’s visit to Cardiff on Friday.

Their most recent result was a thrilling one-run home victory over Surrey on Tuesday when Glamorgan’s bowlers were able to defend what had appeared a below-par 153 for 6.

That result came without top-scorer Marnus Labuschagne (294 from six innings, strike rate of 137.38) who was self-isolating. The Australian overseas – and his compatriot Michael Neser - will not be available for the Essex or Sussex games either. Nick Selman, who tested positive for COVID-19 last week, is recovering from the illness.

Glamorgan celebrate their thrilling win against Surrey earlier this week

Glamorgan’s top wicket taker has been Dan Douthwaite with 11. Labuschagne and left-arm spinner Prem Sisodiya have seven each.

Squad: TBA

Starting XI in previous match: Kiran Carlson, David Lloyd, Colin Ingram, Chris Cooke*+, Billy Root, Dan Douthwaite, James Weighell, Sam Pearce, Timm van der Gugten, Roman Walker, Prem Sisodiya

Match information

Middlesex

Thursday’s fixture against Middlesex at Lord’s is scheduled to begin at 6.15pm.

A live stream will be available on the Sussex Cricket Match Centre, alongside a video scorecard and live statistics.

Radio commentary will be available from BBC Sussex on their DAB station.

Glamorgan

Friday’s fixture against Glamorgan at Sophia Gardens is scheduled to begin at 5.30pm.

A live stream will be available on the Sussex Cricket Match Centre, alongside a video scorecard and live statistics.

Radio commentary will be available from BBC Sussex on their DAB station.