Sussex stars up-and-down week in Big Bash

Phil Salt and Rashid Khan have continued their Big Bash League campaign with Adelaide Strikers.They had started last week with an 11-run defeat to the Hobart Hurricanes, but they had a quick chance to make amends as they took on the same opponents two days later. Rashid was effective with the ball, removing the in-form Ben McDermott for 46 as he finished with fine figures of 1-27 from his allocation. Needing a target of 147 for victory, Adelaide were in a comfortable position, but Salt was unable to make the most of a below-bar score as he was dismissed for six, bowled by James Faulkner, the exact same dismissal he suffered two days prior. Rashid was not needed with the bat as the Strikers won by five wickets. Five days later the Strikers took on Sydney Sixers in Hobart. Bowling first, Rashid was unable to create major inroads as like most of the other Strikers bowlers he was on the end of the second-fastest Big Bash half-century ever as Dan Christian smashed 50 from 15 balls. The Afghan leg-spinner finished with figures of 1-34 from his allocation, picking up the wicket of James Vince in the process. Chasing a target of 178 to win, Salt started better than previous innings as he smashed six boundaries. However, he met the in-form Christian and was dismissed by the all-rounder for 28 off just 16 balls. Rashid was unable to do much damage with the bat, dismissed for 11 off 13 balls by Carlos Brathwaite as Adelaide Strikers fell to their second defeat of the season by 38 runs. Sussex’ other overseas star Travis Head was in action for Australia as they began their four-match Test series versus India. Replying to India’s score of 244, Head was part of an Australian collapse as he was dismissed for nine by Ravichandran Ashwin as the Aussies were bowled out for 191. However, Head was not be needed again as India collapsed to the joint fifth lowest Test total of all time as they were bowled out for just 36 to leave Australia a total of 90 to chase down which they did with the loss of just two wickets. Nine Sussex players were signed by Southern Brave for the men’s and women’s The Hundred tournament in 2021. Freya Kemp, Tara Norris, Carla Rudd, Paige Scholfield and Danni Wyatt will all feature in the Brave’s women’s squad. Meanwhile, George Garton, Chris Jordan, Tymal Mills and Delray Rawlins have been called up to the men’s squad.