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County news
Sussex sign Dwayne Smith for Twenty20s
Cricinfo staff
June 10, 2008
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Dwayne Smith is Sussex's short-term recruit for the Twenty20 Cup
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Dwayne Smith, the West Indies allrounder, has joined Sussex for their Twenty20 Cup campaign after being signed as a replacement for the injured Mushtaq Ahmed. He is expected to make his debut in their opening match against holders Kent on Wednesday.
"We are excited to have Dwayne join us," Mark Robinson, Sussex's coach, said. "We've had to move quickly on this following injury to Mushy, and at a day's notice I feel very lucky, to have gained such a high-quality player."
Robinson said Smith's addition will benefit the county when Luke Wright takes up his international commitments. "The fact that he bats, bowls and fields means he will, in theory, be a like-for-like replacement for Luke when he joins England."
Chris Adams, Sussex's captain, also expressed confidence in Smith's abilities. "I think it's an exciting signing. I haven't got a great knowledge of Dwayne but he is an outstanding one-day cricketer. He is a great fielder, hits the ball a very long way and he is an improving bowler," he told the Argus.
Meanwhile, Adams said Mushtaq will re-join the squad for the County Championship. "The timing [of Smith's signing] is right because Mushy needs three weeks of rest so he is ready to go for the Lancashire game in the Championship on June 29.
"There's no point in rushing him [Mushtaq] back, we need him back fully fit and refreshed and in the meantime we get an exciting young West Indian who will give us a great chance of doing well in Twenty20."
Smith joins the county after taking part in the Indian Premier League, where he represented the Mumbai Indians. He played four matches, but had limited success, with 45 runs and five wickets from four matches.
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