Sayers reveals Sussex interest with eye on 2019 Ashes

Chadd Sayers, the Australian swing bowler, has emerged as a potential signing for Sussex.

Sayers revealed on the Rowey and Bicks radio show in Adelaide that he was hoping to sign for the club in the coming days with a view to gaining experience of English conditions ahead of the 2019 Ashes tour.

While it is unclear how Sayers would qualify for a work permit - he has not played international cricket, does not receive a central contract from Cricket Australia and is not a regular member of the Australia squad - his interest to Sussex does make sense.

Not only would his style of bowling probably prove highly potent on early-season English wickets, but Chris Jordan and Jofra Archer are unavailable due to their IPL commitments and Jason Gillespie, a new addition to the Sussex coaching staff and the Adelaide Strikers coach, has seen a good deal of Sayers in action in Adelaide, where he plays his first-class cricket. A first-class bowling average of 23.56 is testament to Sayers' control and skill.

Sussex would only confirm that they are looking "at a number of options for the early part of the season" and insisted "nothing has been confirmed."

In other county news, Allan Donald has finally been granted the work permit which will allow him to take up the role of assistant coach at Kent. Donald, who has as British wife and has previously coaches with both England and Warwickshire, was due to join the county for the 2017 season but was unable to gain the required permit as his Level 2 coaching qualification was deemed inadequate.

He has subsequently gained the required qualifications and been granted the work permit. He is in Antigua with the first team squad involved in the Regional Super 50 competition.

Meanwhile, Hampshire are understood to have won the fierce competition to sign Sam Northeast, whose relationship with Kent has deteriorated since he expressed his reluctance to commit his future to the club.