Mason has taken 305 first-class wickets in eight seasons at New Road

Promotion-chasing Worcestershire will be without veteran paceman Matt Mason for their final game against Division Two champions Sussex at New Road.

Mason, who signed a new one-year deal with the county earlier this month, is out for the second successive match with a knee injury.

Fast bowler Richard Jones is added to the XI that beat Middlesex at Lord's on Friday to keep their hopes alive.

Worcestershire must win if they are to have any chance of promotion.

And even then, going into the game nine points behind second-placed Glamorgan, they will have to rely on the Welshmen not beating bottom club Derbyshire at Cardiff.

Sussex sealed an immediate return to the top flight during last week's game against Northants at Hove and duly claimed the Division Two crown when Glamorgan failed to win at The Oval.

And, subject to final confirmation by the England and Wales Cricket Board, the presentation of the LV= County Championship Division Two trophy will be made at New Road on Wednesday at the close of play on the third day.

Sussex are captained for this final fixture by Murray Goodwin as Mike Yardy is on England duty, along with Luke Wright, while youngsters Will Adkin, Will Beer and Lewis Hatchett are added to their squad.

Worcestershire (from): D K H Mitchell (capt), D A Wheeldon, V S Solanki, Moeen Ali , A N Kervezee, Shakib Al Hasan, J G Cameron, G M Andrew, O B Cox, A Richardson, J D Shantry, R A Jones.

Sussex (from): M W Goodwin (capt), W A Adkin, J E Anyon, W A T Beer, B C Brown, C D Collymore, L J Hatchett, A J Hodd, C D Nash, M S Panesar, M J Prior, O P Rayner, L W P Wells, Yasir Arafat.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version