The Essex County side suffered a major blow ahead of the crucial match, with all-rounder Vian Milder returning to his home country of South Africa for personal reasons.
The 28-year-old will not feature in the County Championship clash against Warwickshire starting on Friday. Milder has also been named in the squad for the opening seven Red Ball matches and the opening leg of the T20 Blast starting next month.
Vian Milder has scored 48 runs and taken one wicket in his two matches so far this season. Essex beat Hampshire by a contest in one of those matches, a 10-wicket defeat at the hands of Somerset in the other.
According to the club’s management, Milder has left Chelmsford on a temporary basis and they fully support his decision, with an update on his return to be issued at a later date.
It may be recalled that Vian Milder was part of the team that won the World Test Championship title against Australia last year.
