Sussex are stepping up their search for an overseas player after losing Ross Taylor earlier than expected.

Taylor was originally due to link up with New Zealand after Sussex’s penultimate group game in the NatWest T20 Blast against Surrey on July 22.

But the Black Caps’ series against Zimbabwe has been brought forward meaning that Taylor will now miss the trip to the Oval which could prove crucial to Sussex’s chances of making the quarter-finals.

Taylor has been in superb form for the Sharks in the competition and took his tally to 305 runs – the second highest in the competition behind Michael Klinger – with an unbeaten 33 in the victory over Middlesex on Friday night. The 32-year-old has also shone in the Championship and Royal London One-Day Cup and coach Mark Davis admits it will be hard to find a suitable replacement when Taylor leaves in two weeks’ time.

Davis said: “Ross has been exceptional. We have not had an overseas player at the club for a long time who has put so many good performances together in a short space of time.

“We initially signed him for 13 of our 14 Twenty20 group games but New Zealand want him early as their tour of Zimbabwe has been moved a week forward. We thought we might lose him for three games but we negotiated with Mark Hesson (New Zealand coach) and we are just losing him for the last two.

“He’s going to be hard to replace but we’ve got a few ideas. It’s not that straightforward as the CPL is going on and loads of international series but I’m sure we will find someone.”