Photos from first day of Lancs vs Sussex LVCC - Afternoon Session.

Photos from first day of Lancs vs Sussex LVCC - Morning Session.

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.

Foxes add Styris to T20 squad.

Al Hasan (pictured) is not contracted to play in the Natwest T20 Blast.

New Zealand all-rounder, Scott Styris, is set to join Leicestershire Foxes for their Natwest T20 Blast campaign this summer, providing cover for Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan as the club’s second overseas signing.

Styris has played for Essex in the English domestic campaign and scored the joint-third fastest century whilst playing for Sussex in 2012 against Gloucestershire, scoring 100 from just 37 balls.

His twenty20 record speaks volumes, accumulating 3,790 runs at an average of 26.50 with 112 wickets to his name and he is expected to be valued contributor to the Foxes campaign.

This signing is a signal of intent from Leicestershire, who aim to hit their former heights in this tournament, after winning the t20 trophy more times than any other county (3).

Their most recent success in the shortest format of the game came in 2011, but the previous two campaigns have seen them fail to progress from the group stages.

Styris has had vast experience at international across all formats, but has become a t20 specialist, signing for Deccan Chargers and Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League.

The 38-year-old has played 31 T20 international for New Zealand, scoring 578 runs with 18 wickets to his name and has a valuable economy rate of 6.77.

Styris said: "Having played in two finals days in the last four years, I feel I have unfinished business in English T20 cricket and want to play a key role for a successful Foxes campaign.

"I love playing in England and am looking forward to working with the team over the next few months. I hope to add value with my skills and knowledge of the T20 game."

Director of cricket, Phil Whitticase, said: "I'm really pleased that we've managed to get a high-profile player like Scott as our second overseas player.

“His record is second-to-none and I'm looking forward to him playing a key role in our side. Scott has vast experience and knowledge and that will be a big help to Josh [Cobb] and the team."

Styris will be present for the entirety of the group stages and will be available for their first match against Derbyshire on 16 May, subject to visa approval. 

Essex sign Newby on loan.

Newby joins Essex on a one-month contract.

Injury-stricken Essex have bolstered their seam attack with the loan signing of Lancashire’s Oliver Newby for one month, after a struggle to find a regular place in the first team at Emirates Old Trafford.

Essex have also acquired the services of all-rounder, Tanweer Sikandar on a dual registration from Hertfordshire, demonstrating the counties urgency to cover the gaps left by their long list of injuries.

Newby was given an opportunity to impress at the back end of last season, featuring in Lancashire’s final three matches where he claimed 12 wickets, helping to cement their promotion to Division One.

However, the signing of Kyle Jarvis has perpetuated his fight for regular starts in the first XI and the availability of James Anderson has made it impossible for him to earn a place in Lancashire’s team despite early season injuries to Glen Chapple and Kyle Hogg.

The 29-year-old has played 51 first class matches, claiming 130 wickets at an average of 31.93 and was on loan at Nottinghamshire in 2005.

Essex’s season has been hampered by several injury problems, including Reece Topley, and club stalwarts, David Masters and Graham Napier, are both doubtful for the counties match versus Leicestershire this Sunday.

Essex have made a promising start to their Championship campaign, drawing their last match against Gloucestershire. Masters and Napier proved to be key players, claiming all ten first innings wickets, but with both players doubtful for the next match, Newby’s signing is an indication of their desperation. 

Essex head coach, Paul Grayson said: “We would firstly like to thank Lancashire for allowing Oliver to join us on loan. We welcome Oliver to the Club and he will go straight into the squad for the match versus Leicestershire. Everyone knows that we have a big injury list so we are pleased to have him join us.”

Newby has been an important figure in Lancashire’s second team, providing useful cover in the event of injury. He has also been used by the Red Rose County for limited overs cricket and returned career-best figures of 5-36 against Essex in 2012.

Newby said: “This is a great opportunity for me to come and play at Essex. I’m looking forward to my first game and hopefully getting a lot of wickets.”

Commenting on the additional signing of Tanweer Sikandar, Grayson said: “Tanweer has been practicing with us over the winter and has impressed everyone.

“He will join us on a dual registration with Hertfordshire, and we thank them for making this happen. This reinforces our relationship with East London cricket and I’m sure he will have a strong impact on the team.”

Both players are set to feature in Essex’s next match on Sunday at Chelmsford, where they take on a revitalised Leicestershire outfit.