Sussex star Delray Rawlins has asked for time away from the county.

The big-hitting all-rounder from Bermuda has not featured in Sharks’ dismal start to the T20 Vitality Blast season.

He is expected to be absent again when Sussex take on Middlesex at Lord’s today (6.15pm).

Sussex head coach Paul Farbrace said: “Delray went home to Bermuda about three weeks ago and asked for some time away from the game, which we gave him.

“We’ve been supporting him with that, liaising with him and his agent in England on quite a regular basis.”

"At some point we will be able to update you on where that has got to."

Sussex skipper Ravi Bopara spoke this week of how much the team have missed Rawlins’ talents.

Bopara said: “He was a guy who opened the bowling for us, left-arm spin up the hill.

“He had a really good record bowling up the hill.

“That’s hard to replace as well, the left-arm spinner who bowls well, into the wind to a short boundary.”

Ali Orr, who has a knee injury, was due to see a specialist yesterday.