Why Sussex have turned off the TV

11:19pm Wednesday 19th September 2007

Sussex have been banned from watching live TV coverage of rivals Lancashire playing Surrey.

They have been told to focus on beating Worcestershire to keep their own hopes of retaining the Championship alive.

Chris Nash, who top scored with 89 as Sussex made 287-4 on the first day at Hove, revealed: "We are following the game at the Oval but not much.

"We have a little look at lunch and tea but during game we are fully focused on what's happening out there.

"Of course it is going to have a bearing on what happens to us but 99 per cent of our attention is on first of all getting to 400 and then winning the game."

Nash looked on course to score his maiden hundred when he put on 155 with Richard Montgomerie, Sussex's best first wicket stand since Montgomerie and Murray Goodwin made 202 against Essex in 2003.

He said: "It's disappointing but if you had given me 89 at the start I would have taken it. The pitch is a little bit greener and drier. A few balls turned and bounced and I think we had a good day."

Nash believes Sussex's spinners Mushtaq Ahmed and Ollie Rayner could hold the key to their victory hopes.

He added: "Obviously Mushy is always a threat Ollie will have a massive part to play. He has had a brilliant year in the Seconds."

Click here for live udates from Hove throughout the day.