Bevan is priceless to Sussex

The Australian is currently in the first year of a new three-year deal which expires at the end of 2002.

His value in the market place will have certainly gone up in the last week after the 29-year-old left-hander became the first Sussex batsman to score over 150 twice in the same match.

It was one of a stack of records Bevan broke during two mammoth second wicket partnerships with Richard Montgomerie in the drawn match against Nottinghamshire.

Gilbert said: "The way the game is evolving you have to have one eye on the future. Bev's future beyond the end of his current contract is not on the agenda at the moment, but after what happened last week I think it might be soon."

The main stumbling block is Bevan's increasing international commitments.

In his first year with the county he arrived late and left early and next Tuesday he returns to Australia for three indoor one-day internationals against South Africa which will rule him out of two Championship games and two National League matches.

The Aussies are here next year on an Ashes tour and, assuming he is selected for the triangular series which also involves Pakistan, he will be missing for a month from May 25.

There is even the possibility that he might be selected for the whole tour, which would leave Sussex needing to find a replacement.

Gilbert added: "Tours spring up like mushrooms at the moment, especially one-day international series so until we know what Australia have planned for the next couple of years or so it's hard to think too far ahead."

Bevan's contract includes a clause insisting he plays in 11 Championship matches each season.

He reaches that number against Middlesex tomorrow and you can guarantee that he will have his eye on one or two more records before he flies back to Melbourne.

Incredibly, Bevan has scored four successive first-class centuries before, back in 1990-91 for New South Wales in the Sheffield Shield. But if he were to pass three figures at Southgate he would become only the third Sussex player to achieve the feat alongside C.B. Fry, back in 1900, and John Langridge in 1949.

And it wouldn't surprise anyone who witnessed his astonishing performances at Hove last week if he also won the race to become the first batsman to pass 1,000 runs this season.

The 340 he took off the Notts attack, the fourth highest match aggregate in the county's history incidentally, put him on 895 in first-class for the season, 26 behind leader Rahul Dravid whose Kent team are in action against Derbyshire at Canterbury.

Bevan heads a list of seven Australians in the top ten run-scorers, yet only one of them - Middlesex captain Justin Langer - is currently holding down a place in their Test side.

Even Gilbert, who pulled on the baggy green cap eight times during the 1980s, is surprised at that statistic, but not at the form of Bevan.

"I was surprised that Bev was getting out in the 30s and 40s so many times a few weeks ago because he looked in such incredible nick," he said.

"But what we have seen since the second innings against Essex a couple of weeks ago is the clinical assassin we have come to expect.

"I was adamant he had the sort of run-scoring form he has shown since then in him and there is no reason why it shouldn't continue before he leaves for Australia.

"I'm sure he has got it in his mind to get to 1,000 before the flies back, he is an incredibly motivated cricketer."

Meanwhile, Bevan believes there are players capable of filling his boots while he plays for Australia.

Bevan flies off to Melbourne next week for three one-day internationals against South Africa in the new indoor arena in Melbourne.

It means he will miss both Championship games against Northamptonshire next month as well as the National League matches against Lancashire and Worcestershire.

He is due back on August 22, the day Sussex start a Championship game against Glamorgan at Colwyn Bay.

Bevan has scored 151 not out, 166 and 174 in his last three Championship games, but Sussex have had to settle for draws against Essex and Nottinghamshire.

Those results have left the county fourth in the table, but with just 11 points separating leaders Glamorgan from sixth-placed Notts, it is clear Bevan is going to be absent at an extremely important stage of the season.

Bevan accepts flying back to the other side of the world halfway through the season is part and parcel of life as a top international cricketer.

And he certainly believes Sussex have the talent to make up for his absence among the current staff.

He said: "I don't mind it too much when I have to go away because it means the team has to raise it's game by five per cent and that is good for the team.

"The guys not in the side at the moment should look upon it as an opportunity to force their way in, they are certainly capable of stepping in.

"Everyone has to set new goals and put in a bit more, but it won't be a major hassle."

Among those hoping to get a chance to replace Bevan are Will House, Wasim Khan, Jamie Carpenter and Dutchman Bas Zuiderent who has still to make his Championship debut after nearly two years on the staff.

The quartet are all hoping an impressive performance against Gloucestershire in next week's 2nd XI match at Bristol University will get them the nod.

"No one expects whoever comes in to replace him to emulate the feats that Bev has displayed in the last couple of weeks," said skipper Chris Adams.

"But it's an oppportunity for one of those guys to stand up and be counted.

"We keep saying that Sussex is the land of opportunity and this is a chance for someone. They are all working hard, it's up to someone to grab their chance."

Sussex are confident Bevan will be able to play against Glamorgan, although he will need clearance from the Australian Cricket Board's doctor that he is fit before heading back from Melbourne and then dashing up to the north Wales coast.

Bevan has now scored 1,668 runs in all cricket this season with power to add at Southgate this weekend when he aims to become only the third batsman in the county's history to score four successive first-class hundreds.