Robbo: Our plans to replace Adams (From The Argus)

Robbo: Our plans to replace Adams

12:03am Thursday 11th December 2008 in

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Coach Mark Robinson admits Chris Adams’ departure will leave a huge hole in Sussex’s batting.

But Robinson has no plans to replace their former captain with another batsman.

Instead, his priority is to find another fast bowler as well as cover for overseas player Yasir Arafat, who might not be available until June because of Indian Premier League commitments.

The arrival of Ed Joyce from Middlesex will compensate for Adams’ departure but Robinson said: “The biggest change for Sussex is not Chris leaving because nothing stands still in cricket.

“We knew at one stage that all our legends were going to leave. Chris stopping playing is going to leave a huge hole in our batting. He has played professionally for 21 years but before that playing cricket would have been all he ever did as a boy.

“Don’t underestimate what a fine player he was.

“He represented his country and was one of the best English one-day players of his generation and we’re going to miss that ability massively.”

Sussex need to find a short-term replacement for Arafat although it will be February at the earliest before they can expect to tie up a deal.

The IPL auctions take place in late January and only then will it become clearer which overseas players are available for the first few weeks of the county season.

Robinson said: “We have to second-guess what is going to happen.

“We are led to believe that Yasir will play in the IPL but until their auction we won’t know who is available and who is playing. We will then make our choice.”

Another potential problem would be if Arafat is chosen in the Pakistan squad for the Twenty20 World Cup next June.

There is also the possibility that other Sussex players could become potential targets for cash-rich IPL franchises.

Wicketkeeper Matt Prior will raise his profile in India if he has a good Test series while team-mate Luke Wright was personally approached in May by Sachin Tendulkar to take up a short-term IPL contract with Mumbai which he turned down.

Sussex did not offer a new deal to Corey Collymore at the end of last season and are still weighing up whether to approach the former West Indies fast bowler if fresh funds do become available.

Robinson said: “We don’t need another batsman, but hopefully we can bring another bowler in.

“Ideally he would be a domestic player, but I am mindful of the economic climate at the moment. It will be up to the club to see what there is to spend.

“It is a different world for us compared to, say, Surrey. They have just put £400,000 on their budget, I may have to make cuts.

But if we could have another bowler to help fill that gap when another two of our legends, Jason Lewry and James Kirtley, come to an end then that would be great.

I’m not looking to pension them off but we have to look at the succession.”