Preview: Lancashire Vs. Sussex LVCC

Sussex lost their previous fixture at home to Somerset, whilst Lancashire defeated Northants to earn their first win.

Lancashire secured their first win of the 2014 season against Northants and will hope to gain momentum in their next match against Sussex, after Mark Robinson's side were defeated by an innings and 11 runs against Somerset. 

Both teams have been dealt significant blows over the past week, with key players set to miss out. Sussex will be without wicketkeeper, Matt Prior, after failing to recover from an achilles injury and Ed Joyce and Chris Jordan are also unavailable. 

James Anderson claimed ten wickets in Lancashire's first win of the season, but has been recalled to England's limited overs squad for the match against Scotland alongside wicketkeeper, Jos Buttler, which sees Alex Davies return to the squad.

Kyle Hogg is still unavailable after failing to recover from a calf injury with Kyle Jarvis, Kabir Ali and Wayne White all contending to assist Glen Chapple and Tom Smith in the seam department. 

After an impressive spell in the second XI Karl Brown looks set to start for the hosts and is named in a 13-man squad alongside Kyle Jarvis, who is in contention to make his first appearance for the first team this season.

Batsman Chris Nash returns for Sussex and will be given the role of captain in the absence of Joyce, with Luke Wright named in the visitors ranks to provide cover for Jordan, who is also in the England squad after a successful early season spell. 

Steven Croft scored 197 for Lancashire's second XI against Yorkshire and is named in Lancashire's provisional squad in favour of Andrea Agathangelou, after failing to leave a mark on the match at Wantage Road. 

Sussex are top of the Championship table, but were bowled out for 142 in their first innings, with Luke Wells scoring more than half of the teams total. Lancashire will hope to rip through the Sussex batsmen with similar ease but without anderson they will have to work hard for their wickets.

With just 15 points separating the two teams, this early season match will be important in shaping the Division One table, after what is proving to be a very difficult season to predict. 

Key players:

Steve Magoffin.

Glen Chapple: In Anderson's absence the bulk of responsibility will fall to Lancashire's player/coach to rip through the Sussex batting order, with Hogg still out injured. Chapple has taken a back-seat role as a player, but has claimed seven wickets so far this season and will be hoping to make his first significant contribution of the season with the ball after the departure of Peter Moores.

Steve Magoffin: Magoffin had a better average than any other bolwer in Championship cricket last season and with the absence of Chris Jordan, due to international duties, he will have added responsibility with the ball. He has claimed 16 wicket in three Championship matches this season at an average of just 15.19 and is already starting to give a repeat performance of last year. 


Teams: 

Lancashire: Glen Chapple (captain), Karl Brown, Steven Croft, Alex Davies (wicketkeeper), Paul Horton, Kyle Jarvis, Kabir Ali, Simon Kerrigan, Ashwell Prince, Luke Procter, Luis Reece, Tom Smith, Wayne White.
Sussex: Chris Nash (captain), James Anyon, Ben Brown (wicketkeeper), Rory Hamilton-Brown, Lewis Hatchett, Jon Lewis, Matt Machan, Steve Magoffin, Stephan Piolett, Luke Wells, Luke Wright, Michael Yardy, Zaidi.