7:20am Tuesday 7th July 2009
By Bruce Talbot
Sussex coach Mark Robinson believes star one-day batsman Ed Joyce can win back his England place.
Joyce became the leading run scorer in this season’s Friends Provident Trophy after scoring 146 – his third century in this year’s competition – in Sunday’s semi-final win over Gloucestershire.
The 30-year-old will go into the final against Hampshire on July 25 on 531 runs and relishing another opportunity to impress on the big stage.
Robinson said: “He has performed in the big games for us. It was a great performance at Taunton in the quarter-final when he scored 74 in a pressurised run chase and his innings on Sunday was outstanding.
“He is a top performer which is why we wanted him to come to Sussex. He wanted to push himself in a new environment and we want to push him. As far as England are concerned I don’t think Ed can do much more but the final is another big occasion for him to push his claims.”
Sussex hope to have Matt Prior available for the final because there is a break between the second and third Ashes Tests. That would also mean Kevin Pietersen could play for the Hawks.
The county will announce ticket details for Lord’s today but tickets for the Mound and Tavern stands are already on sale on the Lord’s website priced £45 (adults) and £17 or £12 (under-16s).
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