MURRAY Goodwin could be returning to Sussex as overseas player next season.

Australian Michael Bevan is due to come back to fulfill the third and final year of his contract, but the county admitted today that they have serious doubts about his availability in 2002 because of Australian commitments.

They are already aware that Bevan will probably miss the first Championship game of the new season, which is due to start on April 19, because of a one-day tournament in Zimbabwe which finishes two days earlier.

But they are also concerned about Australia's arrangements for August and September. A tour to Pakistan, comprising of three Tests and three one-day matches, has already been organised and there are tentative plans for a series of indoor internationals and a training camp.

Bevan's contract stipulates that he must play a minimum of 11 Championship games, but if he were unavailable in the last two months of the season he could miss as many as seven matches.

Sussex have already had discussions with the 31-year-old, who scored over 2,000 runs for Sussex last season despite missing several games when he flew back home for a one-day tournament.

If Bevan doesn't come back, it seems certain that Sussex will re-sign the popular Goodwin who went into the current Championship game against Gloucestershire with over 1,500 runs under his belt.

The 28-year-old, who retired from Test cricket last year, has proved popular with his team-mates and Sussex supporters.

I understand Goodwin is keen to come back, but there is no shortage of other counties monitoring developments, Hampshire and Essex amongst them.

Chairman Don Trangmar said today: "There are serious doubts about Michael's availability to fulfill his contract because of increasing international commitments.

"The club's first response will be to make a decision regarding Michael's contract. If the decision is not to take up the option for a third year then, and only then, will we contemplate a replacement."

Sussex are anxious to resolve the situation before Goodwin returns to Perth next week to play for Western Australia.