Smith keen on earlier Sussex return

Chief Executive Dave Brooks admits that a congested international calender could make Sussex’s search for a third overseas player even tougher.

The county confirmed yesterday that Dwayne Smith has re-joined them for their defence of the Twenty20 Cup as second overseas player alongside Yasir Arafat.

Smith will get a work permit after being called into the West Indies one-day squad for the first time since 2007 for the forthcoming series in Australia.

The 26-year-old all-rounder is due to miss Sussex’s first five Twenty20 games because of West Indies’ home series against South Africa although with that series due to end on June 2, the day after Sussex start their campaign at home to Somerset, there is still the chance that he could return earlier.

Brooks said: “It is possible depending on Dwayne’s commitments that he could be available earlier than June 16, when he is due to play his first game for us against Gloucestershire.

“Dwayne is keen to help us as much as possible. He definitely won’t be available for the first two games and bringing someone in for two matches would be virtually impossible but we want to give ourselves the best possible chance of winning every game.

“We are pursuing a number of options. June is an extremely busy month in the international calender with all ten Test-playing countries playing at different times. We have got to find someone who is available and can easily get a work permit.

“In an ideal world it would be a batting all-rounder who can bowl but there aren’t many of them about and the 17 other counties are all trying to sign players of that ability.”

Smith played a key role in Sussex’s success last season with 338 runs including a blistering 59 off 26 balls in the final against Somerset. He said: “My time so far at Hove has been hugely enjoyable and I believe that my cricket has benefited an enormous amount from the team spirit that is so evident at the county.”

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