The game at Hove was called off at 3pm yesterday because of rain, and General Manager David Gilbert reckons the washout will cost Sussex around £20,000.

He said: "These are the games when we would hope to profit from the World Cup. We make very little out of the actual game itself next week apart from a little percentage of the catering profits.

"If the weather had been decent we would have had around 2,000 spectators paying £12 a head plus all the spin-offs.

"It's bitterly disappointing that there wasn't a single ball bowled."

Both Sussex and South Africa wanted to play the game today instead, but their request was turned down by tournament organisers.

Gilbert added: "We were keen to play and so were South Africa well into yesterday evening if necessary or even today.

"But because of the travelling the tournament is run on a fairly rigid time schedule and we have got to abide by those rules which is disappointing.

"I think you have to remember that these games are staged to give the countries practice and it would have been a distinct advantage for the South Africans to have played on the same ground where they play India in their opening game a week today, especially to their bowlers who would want to get used to the slope at Hove."

Playing the game last night under the new floodlights at the County Ground was not an option because there were no generators in place.

South Africa will play their second warm-up game against Kent at Canterbury tomorrow, but Jonty Rhodes will not be in action until their final practice match on Tuesday because of a tendon injury to his right wrist.

Rhodes saw a specialist in London yesterday and had a cortisone injection and a small splint fitted to protect the injury which he sustained whilst rowing at South Africa's training camp in Cape Town last week.

Cronje said: "I don't think Jonty is going to be fit for Sunday, so obviously that makes a bit tighter with the tournament starting in a week's time.

"I've played 150 one-day games with him and you don't really notice him until he doesn't play because he makes such a big difference."

Steve Elworthy (calf) and Derek Crookes (finger) are also under treatment and Cronje could struggle to give all 15 members of his squad some match practice in the games against Kent and Middlesex before they return to Hove on Wednesday to complete their preparations for the game against India.

Sussex, meanwhile, head to Arundel on Wednesday to play New Zealand. Tony Cottey (back spasms) and Robin Martin-Jenkins (knee), neither of whom would have played yesterday, hope to be fit.

* SUSSEX have arranged a one-day friendly against a team of Australians playing league cricket in the south-east at Hove on Monday, May 17. It will be 50 overs per side, starting at 11am.

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