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Squad for visits of Glamorgan & Gloucestershire announced

21 Jun 2021

Important spectator information for both matches is available here

James Kirtley has named a 14-man squad for Sussex Sharks’ next two Vitality Blast fixtures against Glamorgan on Tuesday (7pm) and Gloucestershire on Friday (7pm), both at The 1st Central County Ground.

Chris Jordan is unavailable for the fixtures after joining up with England’s squad for this week’s T20 series against Sri Lanka. Henry Crocombe returns to the Sharks’ squad in his place.

Table as of 21 June

How the South Group table looks on the afternoon of Monday 21st June

Washouts against Surrey at The Oval last Thursday and at home against Somerset on Friday ended Sussex’s 100% record in the tournament to date, but the team are still well-placed in second in the South Group with eight points from their five games so far.

Sussex’s leading wicket-taker of all time in the format, Will Beer, took his 100th T20 wicket in the aborted match against Surrey at The Oval on Thursday night. “I’m very chuffed,” the leg-spinner said, reflecting on a momentous achievement. “It feels like such a long time ago that I took the first one 14 years ago, so to get to 100 and be the first Sussex player to do it is something I am very proud of. Hopefully there’s a few more to come!”

Will Beer celebrates his 100th T20 wicket

Will Beer celebrates dismissing Laurie Evans at The Oval on Thursday evening. It was the leg-spinner's 100th wicket in T20 cricket.

The 32-year-old is delighted with how the Sharks have begun this year’s Blast, despite the frustration of two rained off games last week. “If you’d offered us eight points from the first five games, then we’d have definitely taken that, especially as that’s eight points while still being unbeaten.

“We’re losing Chris Jordan to England this week, but it gives someone else in the squad the opportunity to come in and fill his boots,” Will adds as the team looks ahead to three home games this week. “It’s great that all through the squad – and even down to the Academy in Archies’s case! – people are coming in, stepping up and putting in performances to win games. Hopefully, we can keep doing that and keep winning games.”

And what about fellow leg-spinner Archie Lenham and his incredible start to his Blast career?

“I actually coached Archie about four winters ago in the indoor school when he was 12, so I’ve known him for a while! The most impressive thing hasn’t necessarily been his skill with the ball, it’s the way he has taken to the first team environment.

“For him to perform the way he has and to be so relaxed, just shows you how good his temperament is. When you add in his skill, not just with ball, but with the bat as well, he’s a really exciting prospect.

Archie Lenham celebrates

Archie Lenham has enjoyed a wonderful start to life as a Sussex Shark

“We need to keep his feet on the ground, because T20 can be a demoralising game at times, but he’s made a great start and he’s got great support around him in Sals, Kirts and all the lads. There couldn’t be a better environment for him to be in to have the best chance of performing. He just needs to keep taking it in his stride and most importantly enjoying it.”

Will is also full of praise for someone else making an impressive start in their role with the team, Sussex’s T20 Head Coach, James Kirtley.

“It’s a bit odd having made my debut in the team while he was still a player to now be playing for Kirts as a coach. He’s been really good though: very analytical, very calm and he trusts that with the experience in the team the guys know how to prepare. He’s very open with honest communication about where we are at and our plans on each day. It’s been a great start.”

There are plenty of matches to come, of course, and Will cautions against anyone looking too far ahead.

“Getting a home quarter final and then to Finals Day is something we’ve really been targeting, but we are trying to win each game as it comes and then the end result looks after itself.”

Sussex squad

Luke Wright (captain), Will Beer, Ravi Bopara, Oli Carter, Henry Crocombe, George Garton, Travis Head (overseas, Australia), Archie Lenham, Tymal Mills, Delray Rawlins, Ollie Robinson, Phil Salt, Aaron Thomason, David Wiese (overseas, South Africa)

George Garton bowls against Essex

Of the 20 bowlers with at least eight wickets in this year's Vitality Blast, George Garton's economy rate of 5.15 is by far the best

Glamorgan

Glamorgan’s last match against Somerset at Taunton on Saturday fell victim to the rain, but prior to that they had recorded two wins (Essex and Middlesex at home) and three defeats (Gloucestershire and Kent at home, Surrey away) in the tournament. Ahead of Monday evening’s South Group matches between Gloucestershire and Hampshire and Surrey and Essex, the Welshmen are fifth in the table with five points from their six matches.

Glamorgan’s batting has owed much to Australian overseas player, Marnus Labuschagne whose 261 runs from five innings, including scores of 93 not out, 59 and 74 In the team’s first three games, makes him the South Group’s leading run-scorer. South African Colin Ingram made a 48-ball 75 during Glamorgan’s win over Middlesex in their last completed match, while Nick Selman is the other player with a significant score to date. He made 65 from 45 balls as Glamorgan, playing their second game of the competition, beat Essex at Cardiff.

Marnus Labuschagne blows a bubble

Marnus Labuschagne made a career-best 93 not out from 56 balls in Glamorgan's opening match of this year's Blast

Glamorgan’s bowlers have largely done a good job of restricting opposition batsmen, with four of their six players who have bowled at least ten overs in this year’s Blast going at 7.53 runs per over or less. Ruaidhri Smith and Dan Douthwaite have both conceded under sevens runs per over. Douthwaite is Glamorgan’s top-wicket taker with eight scalps so far. Labuschagne has picked up six wickets with his leg-spin, while Smith, Timm van der Gugyen, Prem Sisodiya and Andrew Salter have each taken four.

Squad: Chris Cooke (captain), Kiran Carlson, Tom Cullen, Dan Douthwaite, Colin Ingram (overseas, South Africa), Marnus Labuschagne (overseas, Australia), David Lloyd, Michael Neser (overseas, Australia), Nick Selman, Prem Sisodiya, Callum Taylor, Timm van der Gugten, Roman Walker, James Weighell

Starting XI in last match: Nick Selman, Colin Ingram, Marnus Labuschagne, David Lloyd*, Kiran Carlson, Callum Taylor, Dan Douthwaite, Ruaidhri Smith, Tom Cullen+, Timm van der Gugten, Prem Sisodiya

Gloucestershire

Updated Friday 25th June 2021

Gloucestershire come to The 1st Central County Ground as leaders of the South Group having enjoyed a comfortable home victory over Glamorgan on Thursday evening. A dazzling 94 not out from 41 balls for Glenn Phillips and a record Gloucestershire third-wicket T20 partnership with Benny Howells (53 off 33) saw the team post 216 for 2, before Glamorgan were restricted to 182 for 8.

That was the Bristol-based side's fourth win from eight matches, with other victories coming against Kent (home), Middlesex and Glamorgan again. Interim Head Coach Ian Harvey's men have lost to Sussex and Kent (away) and had matches against Hampshire and Essex washed out.

Phillips is the team's top-scorer and joint sixth in the tournament overall with 266 runs from his six innings at an impressive strike rate of 176.15. Howell and Chris Dent are the other men with over 150 runs. Josh Shaw is Gloucestershire's leading wicket taker with nine dismissals and an economy rate of 7.38 runs per over. David Payne has seven, but has conceded 9.2 runs per over. Former Sussex man, Tom Smith has the team's best economy rate of 6.9 runs per over.

Squad: TBA

Starting XI in last match: Miles Hammond, Chris Dent, Benny Howell, Glenn Phillips, James Bracey+, Jack Taylor*, Ryan Higgins, Tom Smith, Daniel Worrall, Josh Shaw, David Payne

Glamorgan

Tuesdays' fixture against Glamorgan at The 1st Central County Ground is scheduled to begin at 7pm. A limited number of tickets are available online only. There will be no on-the-day gate sales or collections.

If you are coming to the match, please read this important information for spectators.

If you can’t make the game, a live stream will be available on the Sussex Cricket Match Centre, alongside a video scorecard and live statistics.

Many thanks to match sponsor Irwin Mitchell for their support.

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