Sussex fast bowler Billy Taylor admitted today that increasing his earning power will be his main motivation for the rest of the season.

The 25-year-old says he regrets signing a two-year deal at the end of last summer and is hoping to renegotiate his contract when the season ends, having first established himself as a consistent wicket-taker in the Championship side.

Taylor forced his way into the team after some impressive one-day performances against Yorkshire three weeks ago and has taken seven wickets in two games before the current match against his old county Hampshire.

He said: "I signed a two-year contract but to be honest I wish I'd gone for a one-year deal again. I'd be in a good bargaining position at the moment.

"But I hope my performances allow me the opportunity to renegotiate my contract at the end of the season.

"I love playing the game, but I've also got to make a livelihood out of it.

"If everything else in my life was taken care of I would play for nothing, but I'm not in that situation.

"I'm 25 now and should be looking to buy a house. I need to keep performing to get a higher wage, that's my motivation at the moment."

Taylor added a few pounds to his value yesterday when he took two Hampshire wickets as Sussex fought back strongly on the second day of the Championship match at West End.

Taylor removed skipper Robin Smith and Nic Pothas as Hampshire closed on 88-6 in reply to Sussex's first innings 246.

Earlier, Robin Martin-Jenkins had made an unbeaten 80 before following it up with a new ball spell of 3-10.

Sussex coach Peter Moores believes it could turn out to be a match-winning innings in what looks like being a low-scoring game.

Moores said: "Our bowlers have made it into a very good day for us.

"There are some cracks on the pitch and it is quite uneven and very dry, I certainly don't think it's going to get any easier to bat on. Robin is quite a slow starter but once he gets going he has got the ability to hit the ball on the rise because of his height and that is a useful skill in those sort of conditions."