Adams: Sussex not blameless over Harris
8:51am Monday 21st April 2008
Chris Adams has admitted that Sussex were not blameless' in the Ryan Harris affair.
Harris, 28, was today packing his bags and heading back to Australia after playing just one game for the county champions.
His two-year contract was ripped up on Friday when Queensland Bulls, for whom Harris signed a three-year contract last week, insisted that they would not employ him as an overseas player, the only status by which he could play for both clubs.
Adams had to pull Harris out of the starting line-up 40 minutes before the start of the Championship game against Hampshire on Wednesday while Sussex tried to clarify his registration.
He said: "We have got to put this thing to bed but we will have to look at the process of how we recruit players in the future. There is so much red tape and protocol involved and it's unfortunate that in this case there have been many parties involved - with quite a lot of land and sea between those parties - and I think the communication was poor between them all.
"Certainly we as a club aren't blameless in that. I think we've all been naive and in particular I think the player has been let down by the people who manage him.
"I feel sorry for Ryan in that respect, because it could have been a terrific experience for him to play in England for a season."
Meanwhile, the Championship opener against Hampshire was abandoned on Saturday as a draw after no play was possible on the final day because of rain.
Umpires Nigel Cowley and John Steele called it off at 3.30pm after three inspections. Just 11 overs were possible in the last two days with Sussex collecting nine points.
Adams hopes James Kirtley will be available for Wednesday's game against Kent at Hove after he came through a second-team match last week following shoulder surgery.
The Rose Bowl: Sussex 332 (Goodwin 121, Prior 62, SBond 7-66) v Hampshire 319-7 (Lumb 82, JAdams 50). Hampshire (10pts) drew with Sussex (9pts).