Sussex will take on Hampshire in the Friends Provident Trophy final on July 25 but they will be without the support of their mascot, Sid the Shark, who will not be allowed into Lord’s in keeping with its traditional atmosphere.

Sussex fans were not pleased with the decision and set up a petition protesting against the move. "It was quite a surprise to hear that Lord's would not let Sid in,” Dave Brooks, Sussex chief executive told Sky Sports. "He enjoys great support among all the Sussex fans at Hove, and it is clear they want to send a message to the authorities that this decision needs reversing."

Clare Skinner, the MCC's media manager, said "Lord's has a no fancy dress policy in place for all matches and this applies to anyone entering the ground, including mascots.”

When James Franklin dismissed Chris Rogers in Derbyshire’s second innings against Gloucestershire in Cheltenham in the County Championship, the significance of the occasion slipped everybody’s mind, including the bowler's. Four overs later, realisation finally dawned. Franklin had earlier dismissed Tim Groenewald and Steffan Jones off successive balls to round off Derbyshire’s first innings before dismissing Rogers first ball in the second innings, thereby sealing a staggered hat-trick. "I had no idea I'd taken a hat-trick until the umpire reminded me about four overs into my spell," Franklin said. "I've taken one before in Test cricket (against Bangladesh in 2004) but never in first-class."

It brought back memories of another staggered hat-trick during an IPL game in 2008 between Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings at the Eden Gardens. Like this one, it went unnoticed initially. Chennai’s Makhaya Ntini snared two in two and took the third off the first ball of his next spell. The bowler found out only during the innings break.