Young pace bowlers named in Hampshire squad for Sussex friendly

Scott Currie is in the 12-man Hampshire squad to face Sussex in a friendly prior to the Bob Willis Trophy opener between the two counties at Hove next weekend. Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images.

The two-day encounter is taking place today and tomorrow ahead of the first Bob Willis Trophy tie starting next Saturday - which is also against Sussex at Hove!

In the absence of a raft of experienced names, Sam Northeast will skipper a young-looking Hampshire XI.

Pace bowlers Scott Currie, 19, and Ajeet Dale, 20, are both bidding for a place in the Bob Willis Trophy team.

With Kyle Abbott, Fidel Edwards and Brad Wheal all overseas, Keith Barker has been left as Hampshire’s sole experienced frontline seamer - though James Fuller and Ian Holland are medium/fast options.

Neither Currie - who played for England in the Under-19 World Cup in South Africa earlier this year - or Dale has played a first class game in their careers.

Abbott is currently trying to obtain a visa in order to fly to England, but would have to quarantine for a fortnight. At best, and having not trained since March, he would only be available for the T20 Blast campaign beginning in late August.

Wheal could find it easier to fly to England as he has a British passport, but when he arrives will have to quarantine for a fortnight.

Edwards, though, definitely won't be coming over to England.

He has been drafted in the Caribbean Premier League for the Jamaican Tallawahs, whose seasons runs from August 19-September 10.

Top order batsman Rilee Roussouw - who only had a white ball contract in 2020 anyway - is also unlikely to figure for the county. He, too, will be playing in the CPL for the St Lucia Zouks.

England pair James Vince and Liam Dawson are also unavailable for Hampshire this week due to their international commitments.

That leaves Northeast light on experience, with the likes of Felix Organ, 21, Joe Weatherley, 23, Tom Alsop, 24, and Oli Soames, 24, all aiming for a top order place alongside Northeast.

Mason Crane is the only frontline spinner, but Organ is an off-break option with a 5-25 Championship haul against Surrey to his name last summer.

Lewis McManus will keep wicket with Alsop being used as a specialist batsman.

Hampshire (v Sussex, friendly, from): Sam Northeast (skipper), Tom Alsop, Joe Weatherley, Felix Organ, Oli Soames, James Fuller, Ian Holland, Lewis McManus, Keith Barker, Scott Currie, Ajeet Dale, Mason Crane.