Cricket: Sussex broaden Pigott's powers

Sussex have reacted to their poor form this season by giving increased powers to their director of cricket, Tony Pigott.

Pigott, who is also chief executive, will be with the team at all games until the end of the season, but he denied that he will have the final say on team selection and that the future of the coach, Desmond Haynes, is in doubt. He said that team selection would be carried out by the existing panel comprising Haynes, the captain Peter Moores and 2nd XI coach Chris Waller, as well as Pigott himself.

Pigott said his role would be "very much hands-on", adding: "It means Peter Moores can concentrate on captaincy and Desmond and Chris on coaching. There is no change in their positions and my involvement is simply to help where I can."

For today's game against Worcestershire at Arundel Sussex have called up Robin Martin-Jenkins, a 6ft 5in all-rounder and son of the cricket writer and broadcaster, Christopher.

Worcestershire have offered a six-week trial to the Rotterdam student Bas Zuiderent, who scored 99 for the Netherlands in a NatWest Trophy first- round tie at New Road last week.

The champions Leicestershire are hiring industrial hot air driers to get their Grace Road pitch fit for the match against Yorkshire. Last week's game with Warwickshire was washed out without a ball bowled.

Yorkshire have named teenage seam bowler Ryan Sidebottom, son of the old Headingley favourite Arnie, to make his Championship debut.

Durham should be meeting Hampshire at Chester-le-Street today but the chances of play on the first day are already slim, according to the groundsman Tom Flintoft. Hampshire yesterday awarded their Australian opener Matthew Hayden his county cap.

The bottom club, Northamptonshire, play Kent at Maidstone, while Surrey, coming off their first Championship win of the season, travel to Edgbaston to take on Warwickshire, who have to decide whether or not to pick wicketkeeper Keith Piper, who was banned for drug abuse from the Leicestershire wash- out.

Mike Hendrick has had his contract as Ireland coach extended for the next two years. The former England bowler guided Ireland to the semi-finals of the ICC Trophy in Malaysia and to victory over Middlesex in the Benson and Hedges Cup this season.

The Surrey brothers, Adam and Ben Hollioake, have both been selected in an England squad to take part in the Hong Kong Sixes Tournament on 27 and 28 September. Adam is named as captain with Kent's Mark Ealham the only Test player in the seven-man squad.

ENGLAND SQUAD (Hong Kong Sixes, 27-28 September): A J Hollioake (Surrey, capt), B C Hollioake (Surrey), A D Brown (Surrey), D R Brown (Warwickshire), M A Ealham (Kent), G D Lloyd (Lancashire), M V Fleming (Kent).