It goes without saying that this is a critical encounter. What kind of pitch can Yorkshire expect? Is it time for two spinners? Do we play for a draw and hope for the best in the final match, or do we take a positive approach and go after a win? Can we take 20 wickets? Who should play and who will be left out?
The following is an extract from Sussex website on the Warwickshire match last week:
"The persevering Piyush Chawla took both wickets, an overdue reward for the Indian leg-spinner who has so far bowled 43 overs and was looking forward to his bed last night.
He might not have had the impact so far that Sussex supporters envisaged but that is because this pitch, although used before, is typical of so many Hove surfaces: slow and low but no minefield. If Sussex do lose it will be because their batsmen failed to apply themselves on the first day, Ed Joyce excepted."
More pre-match commentary from the Brighton papers:
"So the Yorkshire game will be played on another slow, low surface. It is not ideal but with Chawla in their ranks and no Adil Rashid for Yorkshire it can still work to Sussexs advantage providing their batsmen apply themselves better than they did against Warwickshire...
Robinson added: The wickets we play on make it hard to score freely and when you are under the pump you have to take a lot of dot balls and absorb the pressure which comes with that. You have to be patient.
Team changes are inevitable. If Sussex decide to bolster an out-of-form middle order with an extra batsman will they still have enough firepower in their attack to take 20 wickets? A draw against Yorkshire would not necessarily signal relegation but Sussex do not want to have to go to Trent Bridge needing to win their last game to stay up."
That's a nice well balanced side - so pleased to see Rafiq back in the first team.
I heard a forecast this morning saying it would be breezy but dry tomorrow. Win the toss and bat - hope for maximum batting points and then you're in a very strong position...
I am just packing my case for the trip down to Hove, i already had a good feeling about the game but it just got better the postman has just delivered a cheque from the YCCC lottery,only a tenner but every little helps.