New-look Sharks are going for Blast glory

Sussex Sharks begin a new bid for glory in the Vitality Blast when they host Somerset on Friday evening.

Ahead of their bid to return to Edgbaston’s finals day – which they last played at in 2021 – we look at the squad and their prospects.

Captain: Ravi Bopara

Overseas players: Nathan Mc Andrew( Australia ), Shadab Khan( Pakistan ), AriKarv el as( Greece ).

Finals Day appearances: 5 (2007,

2009, 2012, 2018, 2021) Titles: 1 (2009) 2022 finish: Seventh (South

Group) 2022 leading run scorer: Tom

Alsop (318) 2022 leading wicket taker: Tymal Mills (15)

Keywinter moves: Luke Wright’s retirement will leave a big hole in the top order, but the Sharks have recruited well from overseas. Nathan McAndrew had a good Big Bash with Sydney Thunder and brings newball experience and middle-order hitting potential while the experienced Shadab Khan looks an ideal replacement for Rashid Khan.

The big question: Sussex have plenty of bowling options and Pakistan leg-spinner Shadab Khan looks a terrific signing, but can Sussex get enough runs on the board?

Tom Alsop, who missed the first four games of 2022 but still finished leading scorer, has the temperament to anchor the innings and let others go for their shots.

Wildcard watch: Ali Orr - In Wright’s absence Orr is likely to get an extended opportunity at the top of the order. He has only played eight T20 games in his career but has all the shots in white-ball cricket, as he proved in 2022 when he scored Sussex’s first List A double hundred against Somerset.

Final thought: Two appearances at Finals Day in four years vindicated Sussex’s decision to prioritise the Blast but 2022 was their worst performance for a decade with only four wins.

They will miss Wright and Rashid Khan, who could win matches on their own, and their hopes of making the knockouts may depend on the experienced Ravi Bopara, Tymal Mills and Steven Finn rolling back the years. Send your West Sussex sport stories and pictures to sport.sussex@jpimedia.co.uk for publication in our papers and on our websites

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