Match times, streaming information, tickets and travel, team news, weather forecast, form, prediction and everything else you need to know ahead of the latest round of the LV= Insurance County Championship...
Fixture: Yorkshire v Sussex
Venue: Emerald Headingley, Leeds
Dates: Thursday, June 3, 2021 - Sunday, June 6, 2021
Start time: 11am
What's the lowdown?
Yorkshire will be looking to bounce back quickly against stragglers Sussex, after they were comprehensively turned over by Lancashire in the battle of the Roses.
With a 24-point gap between themselves and league leaders Lancashire, and just a two-point gap between them and third place Northamptonshire, they will be looking behind instead of forward as they drive to maintain their qualifying position.
Sussex have been underwhelming throughout the red-ball season so far, despite boasting some scintillating bowlers.
They’ve won just one game, all the way back in mid-April against Glamorgan, and have lost four of their last five.
They are stuck in a hole, 22 points adrift of second-placed Yorkshire, with an uphill battle ahead. Especially now that they are missing talismanic bowler Ollie Robinson, who is away with England.
Who's in form?
For Yorkshire, Steven Patterson has led from the front, skippering the side very effectively and also claiming 21 wickets at 21.90, but he is followed close behind by young allrounder Jordan Thompson (20 wickets at 22.65).
With the bat, Adam Lyth has had a little slump since starting the season so strongly. However, can still boast 581 runs at 52.81 this season.
Sussex will miss Ollie Robinson and will need young spinner Jack Carson to step up on the dryer, flatter wickets in his absence. Carson is Sussex’s second-leading wicket-taker with 22 at 26.86 and continues to rise in first-class cricket.
Opening bat Tom Haines has been the standout performer for Sussex and hasn’t looked back since registering 155 on the opening day of the season. His 622-run tally is beaten by just three men and comes at an average of 47.84, a very healthy average for an opening bat.
Last five first-class matches (most recent first)
Yorkshire: LDDWW
Sussex: LDLLL
Head-to-head first-class record
Total matches: 202
Yorkshire wins: 86
Sussex wins: 33
Draws: 83
Abandoned: 2
What's the team news?
Yorkshire: The hosts have named a 12-man squad aiming to get back into winning ways. Gary Balance and Dawid Malan come into the group. Matthew Fisher continues his rehab while Jonny Bairstow and Adil Rashid are expected to be fit for next week’s Vitality Blast opener against the Birmingham Bears.
Squad: Gary Balance, Dom Bess, Harry Brook, Ben Coad, Harry Duke Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Adam Lyth, Dawid Malan, Duanne Olivier, Steve Patterson (C), Jordan Thompson, David Willey
Sussex: Mitch Claydon, Daniel Ibrahim and Joe Sarro have been called in to replace Tom Clark, George Garton and Delray Rawlins from the squad that lost to Northants last week. Sixteen-year-old Dan Ibrahim will make his first-class debut for the team if selected having made his maiden appearance for the second team earlier this summer.
Squad: Ben Brown (c & wk), Jamie Atkins, Jack Carson, Mitch Claydon, Henry Crocombe, Tom Haines, Travis Head, Daniel Ibrahim, Stuart Meaker, Ali Orr, Joe Sarro, Aaron Thomason, Stiaan van Zyl
Latest Yorkshire news: Click here
Latest Sussex news: Click here
Who said what?
Jordan Thompson says the return of fans to Headingley comes at the perfect time as Yorkshire look to bounce back from a damaging defeat in the Lancashire derby.
"We need the supporters on our side as much as possible,” said Thompson.
“They are going to be massively important for us this season.
“But it’s up to us to give them something to shout about with the cricket we play. We have to get going quicker than we are doing in the first innings.
“The crowd were against us last week, but hopefully, we can give them something to cheer about at Headingley and then Scarborough in a few weeks.
“You heard the noise when Lancashire were one or two wickets away. There were shouts from the crowd to back them up. That’s what we will certainly get with our supporters on their backs."
Coach Ian Salisbury is relishing the prospect of giving outings to two more products from Sussex's play pathway when the team travel to Yorkshire.
"Ali (Orr) deserves his chance after scoring runs consistently in the second team," he said. Dan (Ibrahim) is an all-rounder who will balance the side out in the same way George (Garton) does.
"He’s a player we identified a number of years ago as having a bright future and he impressed when he was around the squad last year as a 15-year-old and has done ever since.
"His dad, Kash, made his first-class debut in Pakistan, also as a teenager, so there is pedigree in the family. Dan's younger brother is also in our system and keen to follow in his footsteps."
What's the weather forecast?
The amazing weather continues in the north of England, with Headingley basking in the glorious sunshine throughout this game. A high of 21 degrees promises that this clash will heat up come Sunday afternoon.
Keep up to date with the MetOffice’s rolling forecast for Headingley: Click here
How do I follow the match?
TV/stream: Information to come.
All LV= County Championship matches are also available via the ECB's central hub: Click here
The matches can also be viewed on mobile via the ECB app.
Radio: BBC Local Radio and the BBC Sport website will carry ball-by-ball radio commentary of the game.
Digital: The Cricketer will carry live scorecards and daily updates from every LV= County Championship match in 2021, as well as the latest breaking news from around the counties and exclusive features. Visit our County Hub for more.
Going to the game?
Tickets
A limited number of tickets are available: spectators can only book tickets with people in their household or support bubble.
Click here to visit the Yorkshire box office.
Address: Yorkshire County Cricket Club, Emerald Headingley Stadium, Leeds, LS6 3DP
By car: From the south leave the M1 at Junction 43 to take the M621 as far as Junction 2. From the M62 West leave at Junction 27 to take the M621 as far as Junction 2. From the M62 East leave at Junction29 to join the M1 Northbound to take the M621 as far as junction 2.
At Junction 2 of the M621 follow the signs for Headingley stadium along the A643. These signs will lead you along the Leeds Inner Ring Road A58 to the A660 which is signposted to Skipton and Headingley Stadium. Signs along this road will indicate you have reached the Headingley area.
All routes into Leeds from Bradford, Keighley and other northern areas lead to the Leeds Outer Ring Road, the A6110 – A6120 – A63. Along the Outer Ring Road signposting to Headingley Stadium will lead you to the A660 Otley Road and from here southwards to the Headingley area.
Parking: Check latest information with the club, given Covid-19 restrictions.
By bus: The following services operate from the city centre towards Headingley.
Services 19 and 19A – buses every 15 minutes
City Centre stops:
Stand F7 on York Street opposite Leeds Bus Station
Stand K13 on Kirkgate
Stand K17 on Duncan Street
Stand S10 outside Leeds Railway Station
Stand D on Infirmary Street
Stand Y10 opposite the Central Library
Stand Y14 opposite the Combined Courts
Service 56 – buses every 10 minutes
City Centre stops
Stand G6 on Eastgate
Stand J1 on Albion Street
Services 19/A
Full route: Ireland Wood/Tinshill-Spen Lane-Queenswood Drive-Headingley (Stadium)-Cardigan Road-Burley Road-City Centre-York Road-Halton-Whitkirk-Colton-Garforth.
Service 56
Full route: Moor Grange-Queenswood Drive-Headingley (Stadium)-Hyde Park-University-City Centre-York Road-Cross Gates-Swarcliffe-Whinmoor
By train: Headingley is served by three stations.
Leeds Station
Headingley is around a 10-15 minute drive from Leeds City Station. A taxi should cost around £8-£10.
Headingley Station
Headingley Station is on the Harrogate Line and is a 10-minute walk from the ground. Please note that the initial part of this walk is slightly uphill. Trains run half-hourly from Leeds Station and should take around 12 minutes.
Burley Park Station
Burley Park Station is also on the Harrogate Line and is a five minute walk from the ground. Trains run half hourly and should take around five minutes. If travelling from Leeds Station this is your recommended station to use.
Prediction?
With Sussex's only win of the season a distant memory, Yorkshire will most likely have too much for them at their home ground. Sussex will require an inspired performance from somebody to turn the tide on their stuttering red ball campaign. Yorkshire win.
OTHER ROUND NINE PREVIEWS
Group 1
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Leicestershire v Gloucestershire
Group 3
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