Cheteshwar Pujara replaces Travis Head as Sussex move quickly to make overseas player swap

HUW TURBERVILL: The Australia batter has U-turned on his 2022 deal and has opted to focus on his burgeoning Test career. Meanwhile, Josh Philippe is set to replace Mohammad Rizwan when he joins up with Pakistan

Sussex chief executive Rob Andrew has acted swiftly after Australia’s Travis Head told the club that he didn’t want to return to Hove this summer after all.

India batsman Cheteshwar Pujara is a pretty good replacement in the circumstances.

Head had agreed to play for Sussex in 2022 at the end of last summer but has had an unexpectedly triumphant breakthrough for Australia since.

The 28-year-old made Ashes centuries at Brisbane and Hobart, doubling his ton tally from 24 Test caps. Understandably he wants to focus on keeping that going. 

Head and his partner, Jess, are also expecting their first child in September.

Pujara, 34, hasn’t quite been the force he was in Test cricket for India of late – in his last 20 Tests he has averaged 25 – but he should do a good job for Sussex, his fourth county. He will arrive in time for the start of the Championship season and will remain until at least the end of the Royal London Cup. He will not replace Head as captain, however. That decision is yet to be made.

His county record is patchy, however. Three matches for Derbyshire in 2014, averaging 54.75; eight for Nottinghamshire in 2017, averaging 27.75; and 10 for Yorkshire in 2015 and 2018, averaging 25.64.

Sussex still expect Mohammad Rizwan, 29, at Hove for the early part of the Championship and at least eight T20 Blast matches; his signing provided great cheer after the exit of Ben Brown.

Pakistan will need Rizwan for the rearranged ODI series against West Indies in June, however, so exciting Australia wicketkeeper/batsman Josh Philippe, 24, is coming as a locum.

Josh Philippe is bound for Hove (Matt Roberts/Getty Images)

Pujara said: "I’m excited and honoured to be a part of the historic Sussex County Cricket Club for the upcoming season. I do look forward to joining up with the Sussex family soon and be a part of its rich cricketing history. Over the years I have always enjoyed my time in the UK playing county cricket, so eagerly looking forward to the new stint and hope to contribute to the club’s success."

Head said: "I’d like to stress that it’s important for me to support Jessica over the Australian winter while balancing a busy international schedule. It comes with disappointment during a very exciting period for me personally that I won’t be returning this season, I’ve built some great relationships and was excited for it.

"I’m hopeful I can still have an impact at the club in the future and I will be watching the season closely. I wish everyone all the best and thank you for the support."

Sussex have an exceptionally young squad, albeit one augmented by signings like Steve Finn, and the next few seasons will be fascinating. If all goes well, they could have a quality side for a decade. But if things go badly, there will be accusations that these rookies were exposed too young.

On the surface, it doesn’t appear that chief executive Rob Andrew has had much choice with the way things have unfolded, though.

He is facing heavy disapproval from many fans, with former Sussex and England wicketkeeper/player Matt Prior his most high-profile critic. Players like Ben Brown, Chris Jordan and Phil Salt asked to leave Hove, though. What could Andrew do? It’s not realistic to try and make them stay without riches in the bank.

Danny Briggs, Michael Burgess, Laurie Evans, Reece Topley and Luke Wells have also departed in recent years.

Sussex used 26 players in the Championship last season: three were at school and 10 were in their university years.

Those who remain include Tom Haines (23), who many felt should have been with England Lions in Australia, Jamie Atkins (19), Jack Carson (21), James Coles (about to turn 18), Henry Crocombe (20), George Garton (soon to be 25), Sean Hunt (20), Dan Ibrahim (17), Archie Lenham (17) and Ali Orr (about to turn 21).

Many are homegrown, and that is admirable. It’s doubtful that Jofra Archer and Ollie Robinson will be around that much to help out, however.

^{Sussex chief executive Rob Andrew (David Rogers/Getty Images)}

A lot seems to rest on the shoulders of allrounder Fynn Hudson-Prentice, enticed back from Derbyshire.

Where Andrew indisputably does seem to have triumphed is in assembling an off-the-field line-up that looks immensely strong.

Working with performance director Keith Greenfield, Andrew appointed Ian Salisbury (Championship and Royal London Cup) and James Kirtley as 1st XI coaches. They are assisted by Grant Flower and Sarah Taylor. Mike Yardy is now in charge of the academy, and Chris Adams and Tony Cottey are on the playing committee.

Sussex manoeuvred themselves into some promising positions last season, especially against Lancashire and Yorkshire at Hove, but their lack of experience ultimately cost them. They finished bottom of Division Three, and start this summer back in the reformed Division Two. 

"I’m the most excited I have been since I came here," says Andrew, though.

"We have some phenomenal youngsters, and I cannot wait to see how they develop under such a strong coaching set-up. I think that the genuine members understand what we are doing. Yes, they are frustrated, but I think that the next phase will be exciting."