HOVE, England, CMC – Barbadian all-rounder Dwayne Smith has opted to play for Sussex, rather than Indian Premier League outfit Deccan Chargers in the Twenty20 Champions League in October.
The 26-year-old West Indies discard has been representing Sussex in the English County Championship as a Kolpak player over the last two seasons, at the same time, he has played in the IPL with the Chargers.
Smith has been named in Sussex’s 20-member squad from which the final touring party of 15 will be picked for the Champions League. Players – like Smith – that had the choice of two teams for which to play had until last week to declare for which side they would play in the Champions League.
Smith, who has played 10 Tests, 71 One-day Internationals, and five Twenty20 Internationals for West Indies, will be a real boost for Sussex’s batting in the tournament.
They will have to do without former Zimbabwe international Murray Goodwin, who is ineligible for this year’s competition because of his prior links with the rebel Indian Cricket League.
Sussex have been drawn in Group-B, along with New South Wales of Australia and the Eagles of South Africa.
Sussex face NSW on Sunday, October 11, followed by the Eagles on Tuesday, October 13. Both will take place in Delhi, and the top two teams from each group qualify for the next round. Meantime, Sussex had a memorable weekend, when they drew with Somerset at Taunton in their latest County championship four-day match.
Goodwin hit a lifetime-best, undefeated 344, Dion Nash stroked 157, and Carl Hopkinson 139 to lead the visitors to 742 for five declared.
Smith, who made four, then collected two wickets for 91 runs from 36 overs, as Somerset responded with 521 for six.
