ALEX CAREY is making an unexpected trip to Geneva today – as part of his plans for a crack at the Vitality Blast with Sussex.

The Australian wicketkeeper has linked up with the Sharks after, to the surprise of many, missing out on the squad for the forthcoming Ashes series.

He left the Aussie set-up yesterday and arrived at Hove to settle in, do some media duties and watch Sussex play Surrey.

Immigration red tape meant he could not play on the visa taken out for his involvement with the national squad.

Hence the trip to Switzerland today.

Carey had to get out of the country and then re-enter it to renew his paperwork.

That sounds simple – but it not so easy at such short notice on the day most schools break up for summer.

A check of available flights and fares suggested Geneva was the best place.

So it is a flying trip to the Alps with thoughts of Taunton tomorrow on his mind rather than the first Test at Edgbaston.

Carey said: “I have played plenty of cricket in Sussex at East Grinstead so it’s nice to be back at Hove.

“I’ve played in the T20 competition with East Grinstead down here at this ground and it brings back some great memories.

“It’s very exciting. I’ve got my family over here as well and we are really looking forward to the next couple of months.

“Obviously my goal was to be part of the Ashes squad and, unfortunately for me, that hasn’t happened.

“But I love playing cricket over here.

“I’ve watched the T20 Blast over here in the past and it looks like a good competition.

“To be with Dizzy (Sussex head coach Jason Gillespie), I’ve got some good connections with him at Adelaide Strikes and Rashid Khan as well.

“Although the disappointment was there initially, it is really exciting to be able to play more cricket and be over in England for the summer.”

Gillespie is thrilled to have Carey at his command for the coming fixtures.

That is no disrespect, of course, to Ben Brown, who has worked on his white-ball batting and whose assured touch behind the stumps probably cannot be totally valued in runs.

But to have a star of the recent World Cup on board for the rest of the tournament is something special.

Gillespie said: “I’m disappointed for Alex yet delighted that he is joining us.”

The Ashes could also have a bearing on the promotion race in Specsavers County Championship division two, though Sussex have to get their own house in order if they are to challenge for third place.

Durham have lost batsman and skipper Cameron Bancroft and Glamorgan will now be without Marnus Labuschange.