England wicketkeeper braced for extreme conditions in Visakhapatnam after Hyderabad victory

Vithushan Ehantharajah30-Jan-2024It feels a bit of a missed opportunity to have the second of a five-Test series take place in the ‘City of Destiny’. Perhaps recent history was considered when sorting the order of the off-broadway venues selected for this India-England series. Only the games up front are guaranteed to be live.But as both teams arrived in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday afternoon, a strong whiff of fate lingered in the Bay. This time next week, it could be all square, or – get this – England could be heading into their mid-series break in Abu Dhabi 2-0 up. Only those within the touring party believed this was a possibility when they arrived in India.The ACA-VDCA Stadium has only hosted two previous Tests matches – starting with England’s visit in November 2016 – which have both played about the same: initially good for batting, before the spin turns up from day three onwards. Not unlike the surface rolled out at Hyderabad.There is a suspicion, borne out of past experience, that Friday’s pitch may be more extreme. Those who toured India in 2021 recall all too well the three chastening losses that followed their opening victory in Chennai. “All three were probably the worst pitches I’ve batted on,” recalled Ben Foakes, who came into the side in the second Test of that series.Some of those who experienced that tour have labelled it the worst of their lives, as much because of limitations on movement in the Covid-19 era as the unforgiving, embarrassing manner of the defeats. It is a far cry from the free-spirited atmosphere under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum. And so, too, is England’s mindset to cope with whatever India might have up their sleeve this week.Foakes was involved in a 112-run stand with Ollie Pope in Hyderabad•AFP/Getty Images”Going into that, I was thinking, ‘These are horrific wickets – I just need to find a way to stay in’,” Foakes said. “I think now the group is more, if that’s the situation, you’ve got to be positive; got to put it [pressure] back on the bowler and put them under pressure.”Before, there was more of a fear of getting out and that put us in our shells. Whereas now it’s not worrying that you are getting out and accepting that you probably are on those sort of surfaces. But how can you actually go and dominate at times as well?”Ollie Pope was the poster-boy of that approach in Hyderabad with his second-innings 196, and not for the first time, Foakes was a vital accessory. A watchful 34 from 81 balls offered Pope support in a stand of 112, which took England into the lead. It was the fifth time in the Bazball era Foakes has featured in a century stand for the sixth wicket – all in victories.”I usually get about 25 of them,” he joked when asked about the role he assumes in such partnerships. “At Surrey, I bat at No. 5, so I just bat and that’s really an ideal situation for me, whereas playing for England, batting lower down, I’d say my game is better suited to when a batter stays in.”The thing I’ve tried to develop when I go in is if we lose a couple of wickets, to expand early. But I think generally, throughout my career, when there’s been those kind of situations where you have to grind in is when I’ve been most successful. That’s where I need to keep improving, so it fits quite nicely into my game.”Related

Patidar vs Sarfaraz takes centre stage at India nets

India's battle is with themselves

Bazball doubters beware – England's truth is the only truth that matters

McCullum floats possibility of all-spin England attack

Hartley relishing India rematch after thrilling first taste of Bazball

That grind, while welcome in those situations, ultimately brought about Foakes’ axing for the Ashes last summer, when Jonny Bairstow took the gloves after recovering from injury. The sense of disappointment was all too familiar for Foakes, even if he has become used to intermittent runs in the England side since winning the first of his 21 caps in Sri Lanka in 2018.”I obviously found it difficult,” he said. “I think with my career in England being in and out a lot, it wasn’t as if I was shocked or anything like that. For me, I find it difficult to crack on with what I’m doing.”Obviously you go through a few emotions. One time I was at Lord’s waiting to bat [for Surrey] and Jonny took one on the finger. I was panicking, looking at the telly thinking, ‘shit, I’ve got to bat here!’ It’s more that sort of thing. I try to keep a clear mindset when there’s so much going on. It was obviously an incredible series to watch and I just enjoyed it from the sofa.”Ben Foakes celebrates England’s victory with Tom Hartley•Getty ImagesBut this should be a rare clear streak for Foakes. He was picked for this tour with a view to playing on pitches that demand immaculate keeping. Harry Brook’s return home for personal reasons made his route back into the XI a little easier, with Bairstow told to focus solely on batting at No. 5.It took until the dying embers of the first Test for Foakes to get on the scorecard, effecting the stumpings of R Ashwin and Mohammed Siraj off Tom Hartley. He had one blemish in the match, an early half-chance off KL Rahul during India’s first innings off Joe Root’s bowling, but stressed the importance of staying level in Indian conditions.”The more extreme the conditions you know things are occasionally going to wrong so you just have to mentally strong enough to put it out of your mind,” he said. “There is a good chance the next one is going to be a tough one.”You’re in the game, so it’s nice as a keeper. It’s obviously a very hard place to keep, and you’re aware of that. You’re going to have some tough moments or a tough day. But you’d rather be in the game than watching the ball do nothing in front of you.”In conditions like this, it’s about trying to think on your feet and learn because it’s not natural conditions [for me]. I’ve obviously kept away a lot and kept to spinners, but I find that Indian pitches, with the variable bounce, are up there with the hardest.”

Chelsea have enquired about the availability of Xavi Simons, who is open to the possibility of a move to Stamford Bridge. The Blues, however, will have to make a sale or two before they can make a formal bid for the RB Leipzig star. Chelsea have already bolstered their squad by signing forwards like Liam Delap, Joao Pedro and Jamie Gittens, while Estevao Willian is also set to join the club.

• Simons ready to join Chelsea
• Chelsea looking to add more attackers
• Will have to sell first

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to , Simons is open to joining Chelsea. However, before the Premier League club can sanction a transfer for yet another attacker, they will first have to sell. The Blues also have their eyes on Manchester United outcast Alejandro Garnacho, Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers and Fermin Lopez from Barcelona.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The players in Chelsea's attack who could exit the club include Christopher Nkunku, Joao Felix and Nicolas Jackson. Nkunku has looked unsettled in England and saw his game time reduced under Enzo Maresca last season. Felix, meanwhile, has attracted interest from his former club Benfica, and Jackson is being linked with Manchester United.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Mykhailo Mudryk, who has been charged by the FA over an anti-doping breach, remains provisionally suspended, facing a possible lengthy ban. This might prompt Chelsea to try and offload the player this summer. Chelsea ideally want nine players competing for attacking roles in the new campaign, and Simons is at the top of their agenda if they decide to strengthen further.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• AFP
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?

  Eno Maresca's side will play a couple of pre-season friendlies at home on August 8 and 10 against Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan respectively. Chelsea open their new Premier League campaign against Crystal Palace on August 17.

The ICC has handed an “unsatisfactory” rating and one demerit point to the pitch that hosted the New Year’s Test between South Africa and India at Newlands in Cape Town.Cricket South Africa has confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that it will not appeal the sanction, which an official called a “fair” assessment of the surface. On Wednesday, the Western Province Cricket Association (WPCA), the cricket board which runs Newlands, issued a statement saying they will “work closely with Cricket South Africa (CSA) to review the Match Referee’s report thoroughly and identify all areas for improvement.”The match, which India won by seven wickets, ended in less than five sessions and lasted just 642 balls, which made it the shortest result Test in the game’s history. Fast bowlers dominated the game, extracting seam movement and uneven bounce with new ball and old, and neither team bowled a ball of spin.Related

• Stats – Cape Town the shortest completed Test ever

• Rohit calls out ICC for supposed double standards in rating pitches

• SA bemoan 'sad state' of Newlands 'slug-fest'

• What is a bad pitch?

ICC match referee Chris Broad handed out the “unsatisfactory” rating after consulting with captains Dean Elgar and Rohit Sharma, both of whom, according to an ICC release, felt the pitch “was below standard”.”The pitch in Newlands was very difficult to bat on,” Broad said. “The ball bounced quickly and sometimes alarmingly throughout the match, making it difficult to play shots. Several batters were hit on the gloves and many wickets also fell due to the awkward bounce.”Under the ICC’s monitoring process, pitches and outfields can be rated very good, satisfactory, unsatisfactory, or unfit. One demerit point is awarded to venues for an unsatisfactory rating, and three demerit points for an unfit rating.Demerit points remain active for a rolling five-year period. A venue stands to be suspended from hosting international cricket for a 12-month period if it accumulates six demerit points, and suspended for 24 months if it reaches a threshold of 12 demerit points.The sanction is the latest setback for WPCA, which finds itself in financial distress following the construction of an office block in the stadium precinct. While the building has several tenants, WPCA continues to service the debt it incurred to erect the structure and has had to rely on a multi-million Rand bailout from CSA in order to operate this summer. CSA’s funds have been used to ensure the New Year’s Test and the SA20 can take place. WPCA, in their statement, said they are working with CSA and have “committed itself to a comprehensive turnaround strategy to address the recent misfortunes at WPCA, which includes restoring Newlands Cricket Ground to its former glory.”

MatériaMais Notícias

O técnico Fernando Diniz valorizou a postura do Fluminense na vitória por 3 a 0 diante do Goiás nesta quarta-feira (9). Em entrevista coletiva no Maracanã, o comandante avaliou a postura do Tricolor das Laranjeiras na partida válida pela trigésima-sétima rodada do Brasileirão.

– A equipejogou muito bem desde o primeiro minuto. Foi dominante, soube eliminar as chances do Goiás marcar. Trata-se de um time muito perigoso – disse.

Em seguida, o treinador brincou com o fato de contar com um espectador ilustre: o ídolo Fred.

– É sempre muito bom ver o Fred aqui. Meu aproveitamento com ele aqui é ótimo. Só dele aparecer a gente tem mais chances de ganhar (risos). É muito bom vê-lo por aqui – garantiu.

+ Confira como está a tabela no Campeonato Brasileiro!

O treinador falou sobre a possibilidade de renovar seu contrato para a próxima temporada.

– É uma tendência. A gente tem uma conexão muito importante. Tem uma eleição muito importante por aí – afirmou.

Além disto, avaliou o que fica na memória das partidas do Fluminense no Maracanã neste ano.

– O que fica pra mim é a conexão. Títulos, grandes atuações, grandes jogadores formam torcedores. Tenho de aproveitar e mais uma vez agradecer à torcida – disse.

Diniz fez um balanço e apontou o momento mais desafiador da equipe.

-Acho que o mais difícil foi o momento da saída do Nonato, da maneira que ele saiu o time estava muito encaixado com ele e não é só botar outro jogador. Do jeito que a gente joga, principalmente na posição dele, uma função que ligava praticamente todo o sistema e a maneira que ele saiu também. A gente achava que ele ia ficar, eu fiz de tudo para ele ficar, o clube também se esforçou, aí ia ficar e ficamos 10 a 15 dias nesse imbróglio e ele acabou nos deixando – e completou ratificando sua confiança no Fluminense:

-Depois disso o time acabou se encontrando, soube se fortalecer e ficar melhor do que era. O Fluminense de hoje é o melhor da temporada. Acredito que grandes times e grandes pessoas são aquelas que conseguem se fortalecer nos momentos de descida. E no sofrimento você acaba sendo mais reflexivo e esse momento acaba separando os grandes homens e grandes times.

O Fluminense encara o RB Bragantino no domingo (13), às 16h, no Nabi Abi Chedid. A equipe disputa com o Internacional a segunda colocação.

England duo Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice had a role to play in new team-mate Noni Madueke's move to Arsenal from rivals Chelsea, it has been revealed.

Rice and Saka have played with Madueke for EnglandGave him "glowing praise"Madueke completed £52m move to EmiratesFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

According to journalist Sam Dean, Saka and Rice both gave "glowing reviews" of their compatriot when speaking to Mikel Arteta and others inside the club about the potential transfer, before Madueke completed a £52 million ($70m) switch across London. Rice and Saka know Madueke from England international duty and believe the 23-year-old can make an impact at Arsenal.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The Gunners' initial links to Madueke were met with criticism from fans online, but this proves that those who know the winger personally trust in his ability to deliver and grow as a player at Arsenal. He may end up competing with Saka for a place on the right, though he is likely to begin as back-up to his international colleague.

DID YOU KNOW?

In a video uploaded to Arsenal's Instagram page on Friday, Madueke cited both Saka and Rice as two of his best friends in the Gunners squad, alongside Myles Lewis-Skelly and Jurrien Timber. This further underlines the impact Saka and Rice may have had on the transfer behind the scenes, both in terms of convincing the club but also in convincing the former Chelsea winger it was the right move.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

WHAT NEXT FOR MADUEKE AND ARSENAL?

Madueke is set to join up with his new team-mates in early August, having just competed in the Club World Cup with winners Chelsea, and will hope to play alongside Saka and Rice for the first time before their Premier League opener against Manchester United on August 17.

The visitors will field at least three debutants with the squad that includes seven uncapped players

Andrew McGlashan13-Jan-2024

West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite is “quite clear” on the XI he will take into the first Test against Australia next week, which will include at least three debutants, and praised his largely inexperienced team with making good use of their warm-up match in Adelaide.Across the three days against a Cricket Australia XI, made up of players without BBL deals, a number of the top order spent useful time in the middle with wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva hitting a century on the final day while Kavem Hodge struck 52 and 99 and Justin Greaves was twice in the runs.The bowlers were able to knock over the CA XI for 174 in their first innings with an eye-catching performance from quick Shamar Joseph who is in line for a debut next week along with the senior pair of Kemar Roach and Alzarri Joseph.Related

Meet West Indies' new names: the seven uncapped players in Australia

Hodge, da Silva impress for West Indies after fast bowlers run through CA XI

Da Silva hits century as West Indies find positives before Test challenge

“[I’m] quite clear on the XI,” Brathwaite told reporters. “Very happy with how all the guys went about the camp [and] went about this game. This time next week it’s about making West Indies proud.”While Brathwaite did not divulge further details of how West Indies will line up, if the warm-up game is an indication it will see Hodge and Greaves making their debuts at No. 5 and 6 respectively along with Shamar.Left-armer Gudakesh Motie, who took 13 wickets in the match against Zimbabwe a year ago, would appear to be the frontline spinner although allrounder Kevin Sinclair may have given selectors something to ponder.West Indies shuffled their batting order in the second innings with Da Silva, one of the players who was part of the Test series in Australia last time around, making the most of his chance with a hundred while Brathwaite was pleased with how Hodge twice made contributions.Joshua Da Silva spent useful time in the middle•CWI Media

“[Da Silva] took it with both hands, the opportunity to open, and he batted for a long period which is what you want In Test cricket so that was good to see,” he said. “Very pleased with how [Hodge] showed he [could] come again in the second innings and do it. That’s what we want.”Brathwaite (87 Tests) along with Roach (79 Tests) will have key roles to play in showing the way while Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Alzarri were also on the previous tour.”[You can talk about] different spells you would have faced, how the pitches played, there’s a lot of information shared,” Brathwaite said. “Obviously Kemar Roach leading the young bowling attack with experience of similar, how the Kookaburra ball reacts off these types of pitches, the lengths, especially with the new ball is very important.”West Indies also caught well during the game – something Pakistan were unable to do during their Test series, which may have cost them the Melbourne Test.”Catching is very important, especially here in Australia,” Brathwaite said. “The pitches get quite a bit of bounce so especially the slip fielders have to be sharp. That’s something the fielding coach speaks about, [but] we’ve got to keep working hard.”West Indies arrived in Adelaide on December 30 so have had the rare opportunity of spending two weeks in the same city to prepare for the opening Test, which this year will be a day game rather than Adelaide’s traditional day-night fixture with Brisbane instead hosting the pink-ball contest.”Having the time to practice here in Adelaide, get accustomed to the pitches and stuff, think that was great for us,” Brathwaite said. “As a team we are very pleased. The facilities here are outstanding and the boys made good use of them.”West Indies’ squad is missing a host of senior players including former captain Jason Holder and allrounder Kyle Mayers who opted to play in T20 leagues.

“Just the ability to be together, the connections that you make with your older child, it’s amazing.”

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Mar-20242:11

Moody: Kohli showed all his gears

Virat Kohli, after his match-winning 77 against Punjab Kings at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, opened up about his two-month break when his wife Anushka Sharma gave birth to their second child. Kohli missed India’s home Test series against England as he and his family spent time away from the country.”We were not in the country. We were at a place where people were not recognising us. Just time together as a family, just to feel normal for two months,” Kohli said at the post-match presentation ceremony. “For me, for us as a family, it was a surreal experience.”Of course, having two kids, things become totally different from a family perspective. So just the ability to be together, the connections that you make with your older child, it’s amazing.”I mean, I couldn’t have been more grateful to God for the opportunity that I got to spend time with my family.”Kohli spoke about how he enjoyed not being treated like a celebrity.”And yeah, just the place that we were in, I was telling the guys that when we came back, the voices back home felt that much louder,” he said. “I couldn’t look up because I was just not used to being called my name for two months. And then immediately you hear these loud noises and then you’re back in it all again.”But it was beautiful. It’s an amazing experience to just be another person on the road and not be recognised and just carry on about life that normally people would on a daily basis,” he said.Kohli also spoke about the love he gets from the RCB fans, especially in Bengaluru, having played for the franchise since the inception of the IPL.”It’s been going on for years and you know, people talk about a lot of other things when you play sport. The achievements, the stats, the numbers. Look at the end of the day when you look back you’re not going to think of the numbers and the stats. It’s the memories that you create,” Kohli said, before citing the Indian team head coach Rahul Dravid. “Famously Rahul in the change room nowadays says exactly the same to us. When you play, you play your heart out because you’re going to miss these times when you’re with your friends in the change room playing in front of fans.”So the relationship that’s happened organically over so many years it’s something that I can never ever forget. Just the love and the appreciation and the backing I’ve received for so many years that’s been amazing.”Kohli, however, knows that he has to make changes to his game to keep up with the ever-evolving nature of T20 cricket.”Well I mean you have to [make additions to your game],” he said while speaking about stepping out to fast bowlers and hitting them over cover, as opposed to playing the grounded cover drive that he is so famous for.”People know I play the cover drive pretty well so they’re not going to allow me to hit gaps and with guys like KG [Kagiso Rabada] and Arshdeep [Singh] as well, he’s tall. So, I mean, if they’re hitting length, you have to create some momentum in the ball.”And once you’re closer to the ball, you kind of negate the bounce that’s going to happen. You meet it earlier.”So, I mean, you have to come up with a game plan here and there and try to keep improving your game,” Kohli said, before issuing a friendly reminder.”I know my name is nowadays quite attached to just promoting the game in many parts of the world when it comes to T20 cricket. But, I’ve still got it, I guess.”

Bayern Munich were made to bid farewell to a young defender they did not want to lose as Everton completed the signing of 19-year-old Adam Aznou.

• Aznou joins Everton on a four-year deal
• Bayern disappointed to lose young left-back
• Bundesliga club included rights clause

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Toffees completed the signing of left-back Aznou from Bayern for a reported fee of €9 million. The 19-year-old has signed a four-year contract that will keep him at Hill Dickinson until the end of June 2029. Bayern's sporting director, Max Eberl, expressed disappointment at seeing him depart, despite the teenager still having two years remaining on his contract with the club.

Advertisement

• Getty Images
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Born in Barcelona, Aznou came through the La Masia academy before joining Bayern in 2022. However, the young left-back featured in only two games for the Bundesliga giants before being loaned out to La Liga side Real Valladolid, where he made 13 appearances. He will now look to fight for a spot in David Moyes' starting XI, competing directly with Vitalii Mykolenko for the left-back position. Everton, who finished 13th last season in the Premier League, have made four signings this summer, with Aznou being the latest addition. However, the Blues' manager believes the squad still needs two or three more signings before the window closes.

• WHAT MAX EBERL SAID

  Bayern sporting director Eberl expressed frustration at seeing Aznou leave, saying: "We regret that we couldn't continue our partnership with Adam. We aim to focus even more on our talented players in the future. This season, young players, such as those who participated in the Club World Cup, will train regularly with the first team.

  "In general, the door is open to anyone who gives their all every day to achieve our common goals to establish themselves permanently with the FC Bayern professionals.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR BAYERN MUNICH AND EVERTON?

  While the Bundesliga champions are disappointed to see Aznou leave, there is still a possibility of a reunion in the future. While the deal does not include a buy-back clause, Bayern reportedly have a matching right, allowing them to match any future bid for Aznou. Meanwhile, Everton is seeking a few more signings before the transfer window closes. The Blues began their pre-season with a 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth in their opening match of the Summer Series.

Former Manchester United defender Brandon Williams has been given a lifeline after featuring for Hull City against Sunderland in a pre-season friendly following struggles with mental health.

Williams features for Hull in pre-seasonManager keen to hand second chance to ex-Man Utd manFollows battle with mental health and driving banFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Williams left United last summer following the expiry of his contract but was unable to find a new club, having been handed a suspended prison sentence for dangerous driving in 2023. But Hull have taken a chance on the defender, featuring him in their recent pre-season win over Sunderland.

Advertisement(C)Getty ImagesWHAT WAS SAID?

Hull head coach Sergej Jakirovic has opened up on the arrangement, saying: ""I like to help people because everyone deserves a second chance in life," he told Hull Live. "I spoke with him very honestly, and I explained to him what I expect from him.

"We will be very careful, very, very slow. We have time, so we will try to help him. I think the quality is there because he was on a high level at Man United, so his quality is there. We need him to bring good fitness, and then we will make a decision.

"For me, his mentality is good. From our conversations, he's a very normal guy. He just asked me yesterday (Monday), 'can I play?' and then I asked him, 'do you feel comfortable to play some minutes?' His desire is there, and so is the hard work.

"On Saturday [when they played Stockport County at Edgeley Park], we left him here in Hull to carry on training, and so far, everything has gone according to the plan."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Williams has also recently opened up about his struggles with mental health, admitting he could never be openly honest about his feelings during his time at United due to fears over what would happen as a result. Hull have made a major show of support to the young defender by taking him on, where he will hope he can return to the top level.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR WILLIAMS?

Hull are taking the situation with Williams one step at a time, and it remains to be seen whether he will be signed permanently ahead of the Championship campaign beginning in a few weeks' time.

Sussex bowlers chip away after century stand between Luke Procter and Karun Nair

ECB Reporters Network06-Apr-2024Sussex and Northants finished the second day of their Vitality County Championship Division Two game with honours even at Hove. Northants were 292 for 7 at the close and with more time lost to rain and bad light a draw is the favourite result.Northants resumed on 95 for 2 with both Luke Procter and Karun Nair looking in good touch. Nair raised the fifty partnership when he slash-cut Seales over backward-point for six before cover-driving the next delivery for four.From the Cromwell Road end, Ollie Robinson bowled with five slips as John Simpson, the Sussex captain, experimented with a number of funky fields in an effort to make something happen. But if that placed pressure on the Northants batsmen it also left plenty of gaps in the field, and required the bowlers to hit their lengths.When Northants lost their third wicket, at 177, it was something of a gift. Nair, who had batted with classy ease for his 57, hit an ordinary delivery from Danny Lamb – who was in the middle of an eye-catching gallop down the hill – straight to short extra-cover, when James Coles took a sharp catch. At lunch, Northants were 202 for 3, with Procter on 82 and George Bartlett, making a nervous-looking debut after signing from Somerset at the end of last season, on 17.After the break, Sussex stepped up a gear. Coles bowled his slow left-arm deliveries at a quicker pace than usual to another attacking field. Bartlett, in particular, had difficulty against him though the batter got his own back when he drove Jack Carson for a straight six.Procter looked more composed than his partner, so it was some surprise when, at 222, the Northants skipper was well caught by Tom Clark at first slip as he attempted to drive Coles. Procter had hit eight fours and a six in his 225-ball 92.Sussex then took the new ball and with the second delivery with it Seales had Bartlett caught at third slip by Coles for 27 to make it 228 for 5. It was an excellent delivery, shaping into the batsmen and then seaming away off the pitch.Twenty runs later Robinson, in his 18th over of the innings, finally got a deserved first wicket when he had Rob Keogh caught at first slip by Tom Alsop. Northants had lost three wicket in ten overs. But to their relief they edged to their first batting point shortly afterwards. Last season, when they were relegated from the Division One, Northants did not secure their first batting point until their fourth match.With the light fading, Sussex went back to their spinners and Coles picked up his second wicket when Saif Zaib was well caught by Oli Carter at short leg. But the rain was not far away and it drove the players from the field with tea just round the corner. Play was abandoned for the day a little more than an hour later.