Chris Adams and Matt Prior have missed out on a chance to face the Aussies because of a flight schedule.

The Sussex pair were hoping to play for the PCA Masters XI against the tourists at Arundel on Thursday. They would then have rushed north of the border to help Sussex Sharks battle with Scottish Saltires in the totesport League on Friday.

Adams, though, admitted: "We can't do it. We can't get the flights to Scotland. The last one from Gatwick is at 9pm and the game won't finish until about 8.30, which is a real shame."

Adams and Prior will instead play for Robin Smith's PCA Masters XI against Hampshire next Monday.

The game serves as curtain-raiser to the England v Australia contest on a sold-out double-bill of Twenty20 cricket at the Rose Bowl.

Sussex face an all-star Lashings line-up at East Grinstead today (4.30pm) in their build-up to the Twenty20 Cup.