Sussex CCC bulletin

SUSSEX are facing Surrey at the Oval after 10 days' break from the LV County Championship. The match ends on Friday.

Sussex lead the table table and look in a strong position to retain the title. Pro Cricket Manager, Mark Robinson said: "The Oval is always a tough place to play but we are very much looking forward to this fixture. It will be an emotional return to the Oval for Saqlain Mushtaq, should he play."

Injury news

Robin Martin-Jenkins is out with a back injury.

HISTORY OF THE FIXTURE

Sussex v Surrey

Since the official County Championship began in 1890

Overall, Surrey leads by 81-27, with 82 draws

In matches in Surrey, the home side dominates the fixture, leading 43-11, with 41 matches drawn.

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In matches at the Oval, Surrey are again well ahead in the series, by 37-8 with 37 draws.

Interesting Facts:

Since the official County Championship began in 1890

Sussex's best run is the history of this fixture is just two wins, which has been achieved on only three occasions (1913, 1961/2 and 1990). Surrey, on the other hand, has previously recorded a run of five straight wins (1996-2002).

The longest unbeaten streak in this fixture is 21 games by Surrey (1965-76); this run of 21 consisted of 11 wins and 10 draws.

Sussex are unbeaten in this fixture in the last four meetings, and have lost only once in the last six - a run that dates back to 2003.

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This will be Sussex's first Championship match at the Oval in the second half of a season since the 1998 season, and only the third since 1992.

The two previous meetings between the sides at the Oval in the second half of a season have resulted in innings victories - one to each side. Sussex's last four visits to the Oval have been in April (3 times) and May (once).

FORTHCOMING LANDMARKS.

Murray Goodwin - needs 100 more runs for 17000 Career First-Class Runs.

James Kirtley - needs 24 more runs for 2000 Career First-Class Runs.

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Richard Montgomerie - Richard's next but one match will be his 250th Career First-Class Match.

Luke Wright - needs 85 more runs for 1000 Career First-Class Runs, and 96 more runs for 1000 First-Class Runs for Sussex.

Michael Yardy - needs 256 more runs for 5000 Career First-Class Runs.

Rana Naved-ul-Hasan - Rana's next match will be his 100th Career First-Class Match.

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IT WAS really was Luke Wright's week. He celebrated his England call-up to the Twenty20 World Cup squad with a magnificent hundred against Gloucestershire Gladiators at Hove.

Then he was nominated as Metro newspaper's Player of the Month.

And, and having won Sky Sports' Sixes League for the month of July, he went back in pole position with 23 maximums.

And his week was topped off when awarded his county cap by Sussex.

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He said: "I am absolutely delighted to have been selected for the Twenty20 World Championship in South Africa. This has been the best week I've ever had and I am very excited about getting the chance to represent England."

Luke has accumulated his fans during his magnificent domestic Twenty20 Cup season with Sussex Sharks. One is David Graveney, England's Chairman of Selectors: "He's an exciting talent. He brings energy to the stage and this is an energy game."

Luke is thrilled that he is viewed in this way; "This is how I would describe myself and the way I play, but it is great when people like David Graveney say that about me. It's a real compliment."

Luke's selection is just reward for his recent form in domestic cricket, particularly the Twenty20 Cup and the NatWest Pro40 competition, which has just started. He hit a dominating, 73-ball 125 against Gloucestershire Gladiators at Hove last week, and smashed a 44-ball hundred against Kent Spitfires in Twenty20 Cup.

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He is delighted with his current form: "It is going well at the moment, I'm feeling confident each time I go out to bat, and I just want that to continue. I am enjoying all forms of my cricket, but playing one-day cricket gives me the chance to push for a starting place in the Twenty20 World Championship."

Luke has been pushed up the order in the shortened form of the game this season, and he seems to like it: "It has been great this year getting the chance up the order. I prefer it there as it gives me the chance to build from a starting point rather than just tee off at the end of the innings."

Luke's dream week was topped off by being awarded his county cap during the lunch break of the LV County Championship match against Warwickshire.

He said he wasn't sure when it was going to happen: "I thought I must be getting close but didn't know how they'd judge my Twenty20 and one-day performances along with Championship. It was great to have my family down to watch me, and I felt really proud. It is a real honour to be awarded my cap, and also it's a nice pat on the back, saying I am viewed as an established player."

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The County Ground, Hove welcomed record crowds for the one-day Nat West Pro40 clash between Sussex Sharks and arch rivals Hampshire Hawks. Sussex admitted 4,000 spectators plus 800 children who were free for the day.

The sporting action was supported by a raft of family activities including a mascot race and players' autograph signing session, including captains Chris Adams and Shane Warne. An open ground policy enabled all visitors to sample members' facilities and a barbeque and jazz band added to the summer atmosphere.

Gus Mackay, Chief Executive of Sussex CCC said: "We are delighted that the three sold-out Twenty20 games at Hove this year appear to be encouraging a new audience to the Nat West Pro 40 games. Some decent weather, added value activities, of course the team's success, as well as some proactive promotion by the club, has clearly paid dividends for us. I see the popularity of the Nat West Pro40 only increasing in the future."

Sussex's next home fixture will be the Pro40 match against Northamptonshire Steelbacks on Friday, August 31, starting at 4.40pm. Tickets are now available on www.sussexcricket.co.uk and will also be available on the gate.

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A NEW structure strategy for Sussex cricket with an acknowledgment to the Australian model is on its way to Sussex.

Sussex Cricket Board (SCB) and Sussex County Cricket Club (SCCC) are proposing to form closer links between club cricket and the first class game within the county, by setting up a new overall Board of Control.

Currently Sussex Cricket Board has responsibility for recreational (amateur) cricket throughout Sussex, with Sussex County Cricket Club running the professional side.

The proposed Board of Control (BoC) is thought to be the first of its kind in the country and could lead the way towards the Australian style of cricket management, which is fully integrated under a single Cricket Association in each state.

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A key objective of the BoC is the creation of an all-embracing Strategy for Sussex Cricket, under the banner of "Cricket Sussex".

The BoC will undertake a series of detailed reviews of existing services and resources, with a view to ensuring improved efficiency, through shared activity and improved liaison. It will also carry out a full review of the funding of cricket in Sussex, including fund matching, bulk purchasing of equipment for clubs and insurance pooling.

The recommendation is made in a Consultation Document which will be issued to all cricket organisations in the county who will be invited to offer their feed back.

The document has been produced by the Building Partnerships in Sussex Cricket Group, which was set up at the end of 2006 by the SCB and the SCCC.

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The Group's Chairman, David Bowden, states: "Our initiative in Sussex emanates from the England and Wales Cricket Board's Cricket's Strategic Plan for 2005 to 2009 - from Playground to Test Arena, which was issued by the ECB in 2005".

"The aim of the initiative has been to recommend a series of measures, which will lead to a greater degree of cohesion, coordination and integration amongst the various and numerous stakeholders in County, which will lead to fullest possible support to them all," he said.

Amongst the other recommendations is a proposal that a full review should be undertaken of the future pattern for league cricket in the County, with a cascading style of automatic promotion and relegation.

For further information, please contact David Bowden (Chairman of the Building Partnerships Group) at [email protected] or on 01273 555561.

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SUSSEX have confirmed that they have received a formal request from Warwickshire CCC to approach Mushtaq Ahmed regarding the 2008 season.

As per ECB rules, Warwickshire will only be able to enter into discussions with Ahmed during 28 days from Wednesday (August 8) so that cannot be until after September 4.

The club made this statement: "Sussex CCC confirm, in response to reports in a local and national newspaper, that they have not received an official approach from Warwickshire CCC regarding their Pakistani all-rounder Mushtaq Ahmed.

"If an approach has been made directly to the player the club is unaware of this and the approach would therefore it would be deemed an illegal under the current ECB regulations.

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"Sussex are currently in discussion with Mushtaq Ahmed regarding next season and his future at Sussex CCC and hope to conclude our negotiations in due course."

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SUSSEX have had all three of their players confirmed as members of the England 20-overs squad.

Matt Prior, James Kirtley and Luke Wright, originally named provisionally, are all in the squad for next month's ICC inaugural World Championship Twenty20 event in South Africa.

Kirtley was thrilled with the news: "I am very excited at the prospect of being involved in the international Twenty20 side. It has been a fantastic year for Sussex in Twenty20 and I am convinced it has been this strong team performance that has enabled Luke and I to be noticed by the England selectors.

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"With both Matt, Luke and I selected for South Africa I think Sussex is now getting the proper recognition for their success."

Luke Wright, who is the only uncapped player named in the squad, and was the top scorer in domestic Twenty20 cricket this year, said: "I have just not stopped grinning. It was the best phone call I've ever had.

"Telling my family, especially my dad, was a very special moment. Sussex's new success in Twenty20 this year has been inspiring for me. This, and the support of the rest of the team and the club, has definitely contributed to my selection and for that I'm grateful to everyone."

The Sussex trio will face Zimbabwe in the opening game on September 13 in Cape Town.