Sussex will attempt to sign a replacement overseas player ahead of the Royal London One Day Cup to fill the void left by Vernon Philander.

Philander, pictured, has flown back to South Africa after suffering a grown injury on the first day of his Sussex debut against Kent last week.

The all-rounder will miss tomorrow’s second County Championship game against Nottinghamshire and the entire group stages of the RLODC but is expected to return to Hove at the end of May to play four Championship games.

Head coach Mark Davis admits the loss of Philander is a massive blow to Sussex’s hopes of improving on their miserable form in 50-over cricket which has seen them win just one game in the last two seasons.

Davis said: “Vernon is a very good cricketer so it’s frustrating but we will respond to it and make sure we get the best possible team on the pitch for that competition (RLODC).

“We are looking at bringing someone in as we need cover in the bowling department for 50-over cricket but availability is an issue with the IPL going on at the moment and the Champions Trophy later this summer.

“We’d like a bowling all-rounder as a like-for-like replacement for Vernon but if there was a suitable out-and-out bowler available then that would be an option.”
Philander suffered the injury in the first innings against Kent on Friday having only flown in from South Africa a few days earlier.
He was unable to bowl at all in the second innings as Sussex went down to a heavy defeat.
Davis added: “It’s only a slight strain but the problem with groin injuries is they take longer than you think to recover from.
“If Vernon had stayed he would have missed the game at Trent Bridge together with a number of white-ball games so the prudent thing to do for us, Vernon and South Africa was for him to go back home and get himself fit and strong.”
Sussex have also confirmed that former Leicestershire batsman Angus Robson has been offered a season-long trial. Australian-born Robson, 25, will play in the 2nd XI as he bids to win a contract.