Three changes to squad for visit of Middlesex

A 12-player squad has been announced for Sussex’s penultimate home match of this season’s LV= Insurance County Championship against Middlesex, starting on Monday.

There are three changes from the squad that travelled to Worcester for Sussex’s previous fixture. Ben Brown, George Garton and Delray Rawlins replace James Coles, Archie Lenham and Harrison Ward.

Brown has recovered from a hamstring niggle that kept him out of the trip to New Road, while Garton and Rawlins have now had the opportunity to prepare for first-class cricket. Coles and Lenham have been released to play for England U19s in their one-day series against West Indies. Jamie Atkins (shoulder) and Tom Clark (knee) remain unavailable for selection due to injury.

After the first round of  divisional matches, Sussex are fourth in group three with 17 points. Five of those came from the defeat against Worcestershire, with 13 carried over from the group stage as per the tournament regulations. 

Sussex squad

Tom Haines (capt.), Ben Brown, Jack Carson, Oli Carter, Henry Crocombe, George Garton, Fynn Hudson-Prentice, Sean Hunt, Dan Ibrahim, Ali Orr, Delray Rawlins, Joe Sarro

View from the coach's office 

Ian Salisbury on the performance at Worcester: “We competed brilliantly for four days. For the youngest side ever to play in the Championship to take it to six o’clock on the final day shouldn’t be underestimated. We tried everything we could, but just couldn’t get over the line. Conditions played a part with the sun shining and the pitch getting flat on the final day, but we never gave up. After they’d shown their tremendous skill in the preceding days, to watch the guys throwing themselves around right until the last run was scored on Thursday highlighted that they have plenty of determination and fight as well. These guys are going to play a lot of cricket together over the next few years and the way they stuck together and battled hard through tricky periods bodes well.”

On James Coles and Archie Lenham joining up with England U19s: “I know Richard Dawson [ECB Elite Pathway Coach] very well and we’ve been in contact and agreed that if players are not looking likely to play for us, then they can go off and be part of the U19 side. Four day cricket is tough, especially for these young guys. I think Archie and James both looked a little tired at Worcester, so I think joining up with England will do them good. We managed to give Dan [Ibrahim] a week off before the last game and it really seemed to refresh him, so hopefully it will do the same for these two. They’re both very honoured to be picked for England U19s, and we are proud of them getting that call. As I’ve said right from the start we want to produce cricketers for England. We’ve had Ollie, George and Salty get call ups for the senior side this summer, joining CJ and Jofra, and now we’ve got three guys picked for the age-group side. We should be proud of that as a club.”

On the return to the squad of George Garton and Delray Rawlins: “George is still not quite up to speed to play a full role in a first-class game. He’s either been bowling five-ball overs or maximum spells of four full overs for a long time. He’ll be back in the side but playing more of a role as a batsman who can bowl a few overs. We’ve got to be very mindful of his workloads. With Delray, he was in a similar position of having played white-ball cricket only for some time. He’s had a chance to practice with a red-ball now since coming back from The Hundred and so comes back into the squad.”

On balancing preparations for Vitlaity Blast Finals day with the conclusion of the Championship campaign: “James won’t come to Leicester so he can prepare the T20 side and we will work together to get the balance right between taking a strong side to Grace Road and making sure we can prepare as best we can for Finals Day and the opportunity to win a trophy for Sussex."

On Sean Hunt's and Jamie Atkins' journey back to fitness: “While Sean was named in a number of 50-over squads, that was more so he could be with the team and work with the coaches to get him back to full fitness. He was unlikely to play. He’s worked so hard over the last few months and is back in contention to take the field again. Jamie will be around the squad again this week – he’s not quite fit to play yet – but it’s a sign that he’s getting there.”

Middlesex

After finishing bottom of Group 2 (W2, L7, D1), Middlesex began the divisional stage of the Championship with a comfortable 112-run victory over Derbyshire at Lord’s. Robbie White scored his maiden first-class century in Middlesex’s first innings, Ethan Bamber followed that  with a five-wicket haul in Derbyshire’s reply and there were five-wickets for Toby Roland-Jones as Middlesex completed victory on the fourth afternoon. Tim Murtagh took seven wickets across both Derbyshire innings.

Murtagh and Bamber have been the team’s top wicket takers over the Championship season as a whole, taking 44 and 41 respectively with averages just either side of 20. Former England man, Sam Robson, is Middlesex’s top scorer with 720 runs from 22 innings. White is next with 583 runs from his 21 knocks.

Squad: Tim Murtagh (capt.), Martin Andersson, Ethan Bamber, Blake Cullen, Stephen Eskinazi, Tom Helm, Max Holden, Luke Hollman, Sam Robson, Toby Roland-Jones, John Simpson, Mark Stoneman, Thilan Walallawita, Robbie White

Match information

Play is scheduled to begin at 10.30am on all four days of the match. Tickets for each day's play are available to purchase online.

Important information for spectators attending is available here.

Supporters not attending the match will still be able to watch every ball via the live stream on the Sussex Cricket Match Centre. This also includes a live scorecard, video clips of key moments and match statistics.