Murray Goodwin has played his last game of the season for Sussex.

The 32-year-old, who is the county's leading Championship batsman this season with 1,380 runs, has returned home early to Australia because his mother-in-law is seriously ill.

It means he will miss Sunday's National League game at Canterbury (noon) and the final five days of action at Hove next week when Sussex meet Kent in the Championship before playing their final one-day match against Yorkshire.

Director of cricket Peter Moores said: "Murray wants to support his wife at what is a very difficult time for him.

"If there was still a good chance that we might win the Championship next week then we could look at the situation but physically it is a huge thing asking someone to fly to Perth and back twice in a fortnight. As it stands, he won't be back until next season."

Carl Hopkinson is Goodwin's likely replacement on Sunday when victory over Kent Spitfires could clinch the Division Two title with a game to spare if second-placed Durham lose to Somerset.

Tim Ambrose and Chris Nash are also in contention. Meanwhile, Jason Lewry hopes to be available for the Championship finale next week after a successful return to action in the second team this week. Lewry has been out for six weeks after a groin operation.