Sussex deny Steve Waugh set to join them

Sussex have dismissed speculation that they have approached Steve Waugh with an offer for him to be their second overseas player for the 2004 season. A report in the Sun claimed that Sussex were leading a "mad scramble for his signature".

Waugh, 38, retired from international cricket last month and so would be available for the entire summer, but Peter Moores, Sussex's director of cricket, denied the story. "I've heard the rumours about Steve Waugh but that is all they are," he told the Sussex Argus. "There's no truth in them."

Sussex are struggling to find a second overseas player to join Mushtaq Ahmed after talks with Murray Goodwin appear to have stalled over the length of the contract that the county were prepared to offer.