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Mushy - is the end drawing near?
7:26am Thursday 3rd July 2008
Mushtaq Ahmed is to see a knee specialist tomorrow amid growing fears about his Sussex future.
The 38-year-old leg spinner, who had knee surgery in May, was not fit to bowl as the county slumped to a second successive home Championship defeat against Lancashire yesterday.
Skipper Chris Adams said: "We're are going to have to face up to life without him.
"We were hoping the three-week break he had and good work with the physio would sort things out but it hasn't.
"The romantic view is that he will be fine after two weeks of strengthening exercises but the realistic view is that there are more problems with his knee and we will have to make a decision on what is best for him and the club.
"It is getting to the stage where we have got to try and win games without him and treat it as a bonus if he does play.
"I think he will - but we owe it to him to make sure that the next time he does he will not do so having undergone excruciating pain."
In his first game back after three weeks out with knee ligament damage Mushtaq bowled 33 overs but was clearly in agony.
Adams added: "It's unlikely he is going to be back to where he would like to be at all this season.
"He is downhearted and has really struggled to deal with the situation but he owes us nothing. For once, we owe it to him to allow him to play when he is in some sort of physical shape.
"He loves this place and if he could physically continue he would play forever but we have to be realistic."
Adams admitted that if Mushtaq is sidelined for any length of time the club might consider signing another overseas player to replace him.
The county's next game is not until July 16 against Hampshire at Arundel.
Adams said: "It is not a nice thing for him or the club. We have to find out what the problem is and make a long-term decision based on the prognosis from the specialist."
Mushtaq has been the key figure in the most successful period in Sussex's history.
He has been leading wicket-taker for the past five seasons, helping the county win three Championships and two one-day trophies.
Can Sussex win matches without Mushy? Let us know below
Your Say YourArgus
Jon Price, Brighton says...
9:20am Thu 3 Jul 08
They are giving all the signs of a team that is going nowhere fast!
Yorkshire Man, Harrogate says...
9:24am Thu 3 Jul 08
However, Sussex need to bring in a fast bowler as their overseas player for rest of season.
Harris the man as it's not crickeeeeeet without Sussex in the First Division
the viscount, hove says...
10:02am Thu 3 Jul 08
Terence, Brighton says...
10:21am Thu 3 Jul 08
Richard, Hastings says...
11:15am Thu 3 Jul 08
Marty Stanton, Hove says...
2:31pm Thu 3 Jul 08
Graem, london says...
3:05pm Thu 3 Jul 08
teddy, hove says...
4:57pm Thu 3 Jul 08
Jon Price, Brighton says...
5:20pm Thu 3 Jul 08
Mike, Arundel says...
6:10pm Thu 3 Jul 08
Let's all hope they can mend the little chap...but there is no point in making him play when so obviously in pain and struggling.
we will probably need to dip into the legacy and buy-in a world class spinner for the second half of the season otherwise we simply won't bowl teams out, despite rayner doing well in the second spinner's slot.
shame we let saqlain go as we did have him under contract for this summer.
bruce, please keep us posted!
Mike, Arundel says...
6:15pm Thu 3 Jul 08
Martyn, says...
7:06pm Thu 3 Jul 08
Jon Price wrote:The batting has been a problem with four of the top six performing below an acceptable standard.
With so many out of form: Adams, Hopkinson, Yardy, Nash etc and others short of class we are going backwards...I also get the impression that Sussex are 'hiding' Kirtley, he is either good enough to play or isnt. They are giving all the signs of a team that is going nowhere fast!
Sussex are hiding Kirtley because I'm afraid to say he isn't good enough. I expect this to be his and Lewry's last season. I suspect we may see a couple of other retirements at the end of the season as well as a couple of other players being released as well as maybe Hodd leaving to further his career.
I agree with Yorkshireman that we need a fast bowler. Forget Harris who did the dirty of Sussex. I would sign Shane Bond who destroyed us at The Rose Bowl earlier this season.
25 wickets @ 20 during his short stint at Hampshire.
Martyn, says...
7:06pm Thu 3 Jul 08
Jon Price wrote:The batting has been a problem with four of the top six performing below an acceptable standard.
With so many out of form: Adams, Hopkinson, Yardy, Nash etc and others short of class we are going backwards...I also get the impression that Sussex are \'hiding\' Kirtley, he is either good enough to play or isnt. They are giving all the signs of a team that is going nowhere fast!
Sussex are hiding Kirtley because I'm afraid to say he isn't good enough. I expect this to be his and Lewry's last season. I suspect we may see a couple of other retirements at the end of the season as well as a couple of other players being released as well as maybe Hodd leaving to further his career.
I agree with Yorkshireman that we need a fast bowler. Forget Harris who did the dirty of Sussex. I would sign Shane Bond who destroyed us at The Rose Bowl earlier this season.
25 wickets @ 20 during his short stint at Hampshire.
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Mushtaq Ahmed
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Neville Coleman, Sussex says...
8:40am Thu 3 Jul 08