Battle at the bottom for Sussex

All attention turns to the LV= County Championship for Sussex as unbeaten table-toppers Yorkshire are the visitors to Hove in a crucial tie.

Yorkshire, the reigning champions and unbeaten so far this season in the longer format, have had another very strong season - despite several of their squad being on international duty with England.

At the bottom of the table, it seems any two from four will be relegated to Division Two. Sussex are currently one off the bottom on 110 points. That's three points clear of Hampshire, who have struggled back in the top flight, eight behind Worcestershire and 10 behind Somerset. Crucially, Sussex have to play both Worcester (away) and Somerset (home) in the run in.

New Road is generally a results pitch, so the fixture away at Worcester from September 1 is a big game. In football terms, it is without doubt a 32-pointer. Either side of those big fixtures, Sussex must face the leaders Yorkshire home and away starting on Friday at Hove.

Sussex will certainly be buoyed by the return to Championship action for Chris Jordan, who excelled at this time last year in Sussex's last-ditch effort for the title. At his best, Jordan is a quality international test match player and is just what Sussex will need in the attack as they go into the last month of the season. Most of the squad will be fresh and raring to go as they were rested for the game against Essex in midweek in the Royal London Cup.