Skipper Chris Adams believes there is room for improvement as Sussex prepare for their opening home game of the Championship season.

The county face Kent at Hove tomorrow (11am) determined to bounce back after their disappointing three-wicket defeat against first division newcomers Middlesex at the weekend.

Adams said: "There were a lot of pluses at Lord's but also things we will need to work on before the Kent game.

"Certainly our fielding needs to pick up. Bowling-wise, I was pleased with our desire to keep going and do the best for the team and in particular James Kirtley and Jason Lewry.

"Kevin Innes and Robin Martin-Jenkins didn't bowl as many overs and they still lack a bit of match sharpness but that will come."

The pitch at Hove is expected to be more batsman-friendly than the Lord's surface where Sussex were twice bowled out for less than 240.

"The Hove wickets tend to be a bit slow these days, but we've got used to playing on it," said Adams.

"I think it will help Mushtaq (Ahmed) as well, he has already told me he likes pitches which have a bit of grass because the ball grips better."

Mushtaq needed treatment this week to an infected fingernail on one of his spinning fingers, but he should be fit.

That should mean an unchanged side anxious to make a positive start to their home campaign.

Adams added: "I think we will do okay this season and if we play like we did for most of the Middlesex game then we will win more games than we lose, but there are things that we need to sharpen up on as well."

Sussex (probable): Montgomerie, Goodwin, Cottey, Adams, Ambrose, Martin-Jenkins, Prior, Innes, Ahmed, Kirtley, Lewry.

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