Match times, streaming information, tickets and travel, team news, head-to-head record, weather forecast, prediction, and everything else you need to know ahead of the latest round of the County Championship...
Fixture: Sussex v Kent
Venue: The 1st Central County Ground, Hove
Dates: Thursday, May 13, 2021 - Sunday, May 16, 2021
Start time: 11am
What's the lowdown?
It’s a fight between struggling forces, with both teams faltering in the runs department. Having beaten Glamorgan in the second round, Sussex have been blown away for below-par totals in virtually every innings since. Northamptonshire condemned them to a humiliating innings loss in their last outing
Kent likewise capitulated all too frequently though they showed some much-needed resilience against Yorkshire, securing a draw with the help of rain.
Who's in form?
Sussex's Ollie Robinson has continued to boost his hopes of an England call up, with a truly astonishing start to the 2021 campaign. His 25 wickets in four games have come at a Championship leading average of 13.80, including an astounding 9 for 78 against Glamorgan. He has also made some welcome contributions with the bat, registering two fifties.
Darren Stevens is simply a marvel. At 45 years old, he has been Kent’s most consistent and impactful player since his 2005 arrival. Scoring his 35th First Class century in the opening game of the season and securing his 30th five-wicket haul against Glamorgan at the end of April; his name remains the first on the team sheet, and for good reason.
Last five first-class matches (most recent first)
Sussex: LLLWD
Kent: DLLLD
Head-to-head first-class record
Total matches: 210
Sussex wins: 59
Kent wins: 69
Draws: 80
Tied: 2
Abandoned: 1
What's the team news?
Sussex: Jofra Archer could make his return to first-class cricket this week after being named in Sussex's squad for the first time since 2018. Left-arm paceman George Garton also returns to the fold having been rested last week. Joe Sarro misses out and Jamie Atkins is rested.
Squad: Ben Brown (c/wk), Jofra Archer, Jack Carson, Tom Clark, Henry Crocombe, George Garton, Tom Haines, Travis Head, Stuart Meaker, Delray Rawlins, Ollie Robinson (vc), Aaron Thomason, Stiaan van Zyl
Kent: Kent’s injury list remains extensive with Matt Milnes, Heino Kuhn, Harry Podmore, Tim Groenewald and Imran Qayyum all still sidelined.
Joe Denly has taken some time away from the game for personal reasons and is replaced in the squad by Hamid Qadri.
Daniel Bell Drummond remains the skipper in the absence of club captain Sam Billings, who is still in quarantine after returning home from the IPL last week.
Squad: Daniel Bell Drummond (c), Jordan Cox, Zak Crawley, Miguel Cummins, Nathan Gilchrist, Fred Klassen, Jack Leaning, Tawanda Muyeye, Marcus O’Riordan, Hamid Qadri and Matt Quin.
Latest Sussex news: Click here
Who's said what?
Having been overwhelmed by Northamptonshire at Wantage Road, County Championship coach Ian Salisbury admits his Sussex squad have undergone some soul-searching in the lead up to the visit of Kent.
"We were brutally honest with each other after the game and during the last couple of days," he conceded. "I was looking for a reaction from the guys and I’ve seen the guys train really well these last few days as they revisit what they can do well and look at what they can do to get better.
"Delray [Rawlins] and Clarky [Tom Clark] going off to play in the seconds straight after getting back on Sunday night shows that desire to get better. They both had time in the middle and were able to work on a couple of technical things. The willingness among these young guys to get better and learn has been very apparent.
"Travis [Head] has had a week with us to have a good look. He’s done a lot of observing and listening and it’s clear he is ready to go, not just as a player, but as an influencer within the side."
What's the weather forecast?
There’s a possibility of coastal showers throughout the game, with a high of 14 degrees.
Keep up to date with the MetOffice’s rolling forecast for Hove: Click here
How do I follow the match?
TV/stream: Sussex will offer live coverage of the match via their website: Click here
All 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 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: This match is to be played behind closed doors owing to Covid-19 restrictions.
Travel: Not applicable owing to Covid-19 restrictions.
Prediction?
The 13-point gap between these two sides is perhaps wider than the table suggests. Sussex have strung together some strong bowling performances, and if the batter can follow they could be formidable. It remains to be seen if Kent have enough in the tank to match them. Sussex win.
OTHER ROUND SIX PREVIEWS
Group 1
Group 2
Group 3
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