Joyce ready to return to HQ

Watch the full interview with Ed Joyce by clicking on the player above

Ed Joyce admits that his return to Lord’s will be a strange experience, but the outstanding batsman in this year’s Friends Provident Trophy feels he can only thrive in the familiar atmosphere.

Joyce spent a decade as a Middlesex player before deciding to move to Sussex in order to rekindle his international career, and he could go a step further in that record by helping the Sharks win the flagship one-day competition by beating neighbours Hampshire tomorrow.

“I got to play for Sussex against Middlesex in a Twenty20 game this season so it’s not the first game back, thankfully I got that out of the way,” Joyce told ECBtv.

“Leaving Middlesex was a bit of a wrench, partly because of how special Lord’s is.

“We have the home dressing room, but I’m thinking of maybe changing where I sat. It doesn’t really make a difference which dressing room though.

“It’s a great stadium and has the most amazing atmosphere. It’s the home of cricket.”

Joyce has swept all before him in this year’s FP Trophy, plundering two hundreds against Durham in the group stage, then a match-winning 146 to beat Gloucestershire in the semi-final at Hove.

Ed Joyce thrashed Gloucestershire all over Hove with 146 to send Sussex into the Friends Provident Trophy final at Lord's

His success as a opener alongside Chris Nash has been matched by the Hawks, whose opening duo of Michael Lumb and Jimmy Adams have also dominated with several big opening stands.

“I’m really proud of the way I performed after the first couple of games,” said Joyce.

“Myself and Nashy has got us off to good starts too. Nash sees it very simply - if he sees it, he hits it.

“Jimmy Adams has reinvented himself as a one-day cricketer and Michael Lumb is always a dangerous cricketer. They’ve been brilliant for Hampshire as well.

“The success of the openers might have a real bearing on the result.”

Coming to Lord’s for the Friends Provident Trophy Final? Due to planned engineering works, the Victoria Line and Jubilee lines are suspended and St John’s Wood station will be closed. Lord’s is well served by other London Underground stations within a short walk. From Victoria, take the Circle Line via High Street Kensington to Baker Street. From Waterloo take the Bakerloo line to Baker Street. Upon exiting at the ‘Lost Property Office’ exit, follow the blue pedestrian signs to Lord’s which will take 15- 20 minutes. For those less able to walk, proceed down Melcombe Street to Dorset Square where bus services 139, 189, 274, 13, 113 and 82 all have stops close to Lord’s. To plan your route in advance visit: http://www.lords.org/findus.html