Charles Randall: Warwickshire facing an early pitch inspection (31 July 1997)

Thursday 31 July 1997

Warwickshire facing an early pitch inspection

By Charles Randall

SUSSEX arrive at Edgbaston this morning for a championship match against Warwickshire which will double as a reconnaissance trip before their NatWest Trophy semi-final there on Aug 13.

Yesterday`s draw guaranteed a big Wednesday attendance in Birmingham for Warwickshire`s first 60-overs semi-final since 1992, when 10,000 watched Northamptonshire pass through on their way to the title.

Essex meet Glamorgan at Chelmsford in the other tie, to be played the day before. The semi-finals have different dates for the first time to allow both to be televised live on BBC. A request by Warwickshire to bring the tie forward 24 hours to avoid a clash with Aston Villa`s game against Blackburn was turned down by the ECB.

If Sussex could win matches on sympathy they would be Lord`s certainties for Sept 6. Bill Athey, their veteran batsman, reckons his county`s name is already on the trophy and, if they beat War- wickshire, it will not be the first time this Cinderella club have won against the odds.

They beat Lancashire after having been written off and on Tuesday they would have been ruled out halfway through in most people`s minds after Derbyshire scored 327.

Before Derby, few people outside Sussex would have heard of Rajesh Rao, the former MCC groundstaffer of Ugandan descent, who made 158, Sussex`s biggest one-day score.

The Edgbaston tie would evoke memories of big scoring in Sussex`s previous final, when their 321 was not enough to deny Warwickshire victory four years ago.

Tony Pigott, the Sussex chief executive, said: "It`s great just to be in the draw. There are 14 other counties who would love to be in our position."

His comment would have sounded ridiculous at the start of the season after the turmoil surrounding the sacking of the committee and secretary, which followed the departure of six players at Hove, and they lie second to bottom in the County Championship and the Sunday League.

He continued: "It`s a huge bonus for the whole club. There were a lot of Sussex people watching the Derby match, which was encouraging. When we play one-day cricket, we`ve got a good following around the country. "It doesn`t mean that we`re going to suddenly start winning games just because of what happened at Derby, but hopefully it will give us confidence for the rest of the season.

"The guys who are left have been given a great opportunity and they`ve responded magnificently. Rao played the innings of a lifetime. He can go the whole way."

Eyes turn, then, towards Rao in his second season with Sussex, though his championship returns need improving after only 157 runs in seven innings, with his 89 against Essex the highlight.

Yorkshire go into their championship game against Northamptonshire at Headingley all too aware they threw away their trophy quarterfinal in Cardiff.

In a last-over, one-wicket defeat, their bowlers conceded 11 wides and 14 no-balls, compared with Glamorgan`s five wides and no noballs.

Glamorgan face Nottinghamshire at Colwyn Bay today with a good chance of regaining top place in the championship, though they have had to call up Phil North, the Wales minor county left-arm spinner, after an eight-year absence from first-class cricket, to replace Dean Cosker, who is required by England Under-19s. Cosker showed class against Yorkshire, and a further one-day appearance on live television at Chelmsford, and perhaps Lord`s, should enhance his future prospects.

Kent, in third place, might have an awkward time at Worcester if Phil Newport makes his expected return from injury to lead the attack, and Essex, fourth, have unbeaten Leicestershire to deal with at Colchester.

Dominic Cork, despite playing two one-day games since a hernia operation six weeks ago, is not in the Derbyshire squad for the match against Durham at Chester-le-Street.

Stewart Edwards, Derbyshire`s general manager, said: "It was never the intention that Dominic would play in the championship game but the chances are he will play on Sunday."

Semi-final draw

Aug 12 Essex v Glamorgan

Aug 13 Warwickshire v Sussex

Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/)