COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE, Hove:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY ONE: Worcestershire 256, Sussex 48-2 (Sussex 3pts, Worcs 2pts)
11-14 August 2009

In six previous Championship games, Wright had bagged only 13 wickets

Luke Wright strengthened his claims as Andrew Flintoff's long-term successor as England all-rounder with 5-66 for Sussex against Worcestershire at Hove.

Wright, 24, has been an England one-day regular since 2007 and his current form with bat and ball suggests a proper Test opportunity is not far away.

He has flourished with hundreds in two of his last three Championship games.

And he helped bowl out Worcestershire for 256, relegation-threatened Sussex replying on 48-2 by the close.

Worcestershire were already bound for Division Two when they made their last visit to Hove, in the season's final game in September 2007, losing a game that won Sussex the title.

Sussex are struggling this time round and Worcester, without a win all season following last summer's return to the top flight, are once again looking nailed on for an instant return to the division below.

Any hopes they have of winning this one depend on how Sussex respond on Wednesday on a pitch with more grass on it than usual at Hove.

Home skipper Mike Yardy's decision to bowl first was certainly justified.

After removing skipper Vikram Solanki when the Worcestershire captain played on during a hostile pre-lunch spell, Wright returned either side of tea to take four of the last five wickets to fall.

And without want-away vice-captain Gareth Batty, Worcestershire would have been bowled out for less than 200.

Batty made a welcome return to form, top scoring with 46 as he helped the last three wickets put on 95.

Batty batted for 156 minutes to face 99 balls, hitting six fours, but that was comfortably the top score on a day when plenty of his team-mates got out after establishing themselves.

Yasir Arafat provided excellent support for Wright, making the breakthrough when Daryl Mitchell drove a slower ball to mid on. And he picked up two wickets in an 11-over spell during a hot afternoon.

Ben Smith was superbly caught by Yardy running back from slip and Matt Mason mistimed a pull after adding 44 with Batty for the eighth wicket.

England Lions opener Stephen Moore looked the part until pinned leg before by Robin Martin-Jenkins while Moeen Ali was bowled off an inside edge by Corey Collymore.

Sussex had 17 overs to negotiate before the close but they did not emerge unscathed.

Chris Nash nibbled outside off stump during an impressive new-ball burst from Mason while Ed Joyce played on to Gareth Andrew.

Worcestershire's director of cricket Steve Rhodes told BBC Hereford and Worcester:

"It is very frustrating for us as that is a very good wicket and we were very surprised they put us in.

"They left a bit of grass on it but it is still a very good wicket, so for quite a few of our batsmen to get in and then get out in the 20s and 30s is, for a coach, very frustrating.

"Nobody really went on to get a big score but we had some good contributions down the order as well, so we were relatively happy to get 256."

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