Joyce hopes Sharks can bite back in One-Day Cup

The 50-over whiteball clash is expected to draw a bumper crowd at Cricketfield Road in the climax of this year’s Festival of Cricket.

Sussex skipper Ed Joyce is hoping they can put this week’s LV=County Championship disappointment behind them heading into their crucial T20 clash against Surrey on Friday and then opening cup game on Sunday.

He said: “I think on paper we should have a good 50-over team.

“We are in a very tough group, which is obviously a bad thing in terms of trying to get out of the group, but the good thing is if you do get out of the group, you have had a very tough battle and are prepared if you do get to the knock-out stage.

“We were talking that after a bad loss the easy thing is to bring some negativity into the next games, but we want to draw a line under it.

“It’s important in any form of cricket to get off to a good start otherwise you are trying to drag it back.

“Lancashire are a good team. They will have a lot of spin bowlers if their T20 team is anything to go by.

“It will be interesting to see what sort of wicket we play on here with the weather and if it turns.

“We are probably leaning towards having a lot of spin bowlers as well if I am honest, so it could be a spin battle, but I think it will be good wicket with that so it won’t be turgid trying to get it to turn, but I think spin might play a big part.”

Homegrown Horsham duo Chris Nash and Will Beer are both expected to feature for the Sharks on Sunday.

Play starts at 11am.