Kirsten to join Sussex if Goodwin departs?

Gary Kirsten, South Africa's leading Test runscorer, has been linked with a one-year contract with Sussex for 2004. Kirsten is tipped to replace the former Zimbabwean Test batsman Murray Goodwin, who was unhappy when the county champions could only offer him a one-year contract.

Kirsten, 36, has played 95 Tests to date, and has scored nearly 7000 runs, with 19 centuries - all South African records. Yesterday he dropped out of the first Test against West Indies, which starts on Friday (Dec 12), as his wife is about to give birth to their first child. But Kirsten is keen to return and become the first South African to win 100 Test caps, which - barring injury or loss of form - he should do on tour in New Zealand early next year. He has confirmed that he will retire from Test cricket after that series.

If Goodwin does leave, as expected, it will mean that his last innings for Sussex will be his 335 not out against Leicestershire at Hove in September - the highest individual score in the county's history - in the match that sealed Sussex's first County Championship title.

Peter Moores, Sussex's director of coaching, confirmed that Kirsten was in their thoughts: "There are a few names in the hat, and one of them is Gary Kirsten," he said. "He's defintiely our sort of cricketer."