Sussex make approach to Warne

Sussex have made a "substantial" one-year offer to Shane Warne for him to be their overseas player next season. The county's chief executive, Tony Pigott, who also revealed that the coach, Desmond Haynes, is to leave the county at the end of the season, say they are expecting an answer from Warne after the Ashes tour.

"A substantial offer has been made to Shane Warne and we are bound to face a bit of competition, but I've had talks with him directly and I am pretty optimistic," Pigott said.

Discussions with Warne were set up through Sussex's former skipper Tony Greig, who now works in the media in Australia. The West Indian all-rounder Vasbert Drakes is Sussex's current overseas player, but his two-year contract expires at the end of the season.

The role of Haynes, coach for the last two years, has been difficult to define since Pigott took a more hands-on approach in recent weeks. Terms are now being negotiated for a settlement of the final 12 months of the former West Indies captain and opening batsman's contract.

Darren Gough will have treatment on a sore knee before the fifth Test against Australia at Trent Bridge. The England seamer was unable to bowl for Yorkshire in their County Championship match against Northamptonshire at Headingley yesterday.

He had a fitness check in the nets and reported some discomfort, and the England physiotherapist, Wayne Morton, who also acts for Yorkshire, is reporting the situation to Lord's. The problem is believed to be inflammation, but Morton said that Gough would report as normal with the rest of the England squad to Trent Bridge today and have further treatment.