Sidley back to strength for big clash

Dan Auer, Chris Deeprose, Richard Harrison and Neil Priddy are expected to be back for the Sussex Cricket League Division Three (East) clash at home to Burgess Hill tomorrow (Saturday).

Peter King will also come in if he can shake off the calf problem which forced him to drop out of last weekend’s defeat away to Ansty the previous night.

Scott Woodroffe, Sidley’s captain, said: “It makes it difficult for selection, but it’s good to have them back. With all our players back, we’re more than a match for anyone.”

Sidley and Burgess Hill were the division’s top two until defeats last weekend dropped them to third and fourth respectively behind new leaders Hellingly and second-placed Seaford. Seventeen points separate the top four.

“I think they (Burgess Hill) are one of several teams in mix,” continued Woodroffe. “They’re definitely one of the strongest teams we’ve played so it should be a good game of cricket on Saturday.”

Burgess Hill ran out winners by eight wickets in the reverse fixture on the opening day, although Sidley had by far the worst of the conditions for batting.

Woodroffe went on: “We’re going to have to play at our best to get anything from them and if we bat like we did on Saturday (when they were all out for 123 in under 30 overs), we’ll get nothing out of the game.

“We need to knuckle down and sort ourselves out, but I’m sure they won’t be taking us lightly either.” Play will get underway from 1pm at Gullivers.