Tim Ambrose still regards Australia as home, but there is no doubt where his cricketing allegiances lie.

The youngster announced himself on the county stage in style last week, making 87 on his Hove debut before taking two catches and pulling off a smart stumping in the one-day win over Lancashire.

Ambrose's accent is definitely more Sydney than Saltdean, but who cares about his background if the 18-year-old can build on such an impressive start to his Sussex career.

All of a sudden Matt Prior, the county's other discovery in this encouraging season for Sussex, has a genuine rival for the wicketkeeper-batsman berth although Ambrose cheerfully admits he is still some way short of the finished article.

Still, the raw material looks promising enough. If he was at all nervous on his home debut, in front of the TV cameras as well, it hardly showed as he brutally punished any indiscretion in line or length and ran like a hare between the wickets until he took one risk too many and was run out when a century beckoned.

He admitted this week: "It was a bit of a surprise to be playing to be honest.

"Nick Wilton seemed the obvious choice when we knew Matt would be away with the under-19s so it was great to get an opportunity and to open the batting as well was a bonus. I was disappointed to get out when I did because at that stage I thought the only way I would be out would be if I was run out.

"But the reception I got when I walked back was pretty special. The hairs were standing up on the back of my neck and then there was the man of the match presentation on TV afterwards. I was still buzzing for quite a while in the changing room afterwards."

The quality of Ambrose's wicketkeeping was an even bigger surprise, particularly as he had not picked up his gloves for over a month and had kept in just one second team game this season.

The plan now is to return to Australia at the end of the season, re-assess his goals and return in April determined to put even more pressure on Prior for a first team spot after a winter playing grade cricket in his home town of Newcastle, New South Wales and trying to break into the state under-19s team.

He added: "I am quite happy with the way things have gone batting-wise this season. Keith Greenfield, Tony Cottey and Peter Moores have helped me develop a game plan. It has made me a lot tighter in my technique and I am now able to adapt to different conditions and different types of bowlers.

"The only disappointment is that I haven't made big runs in the seconds. I wanted to score a hundred, but that hasn't happened although there is still one game to go. I've had a few 70s and 80s and made a century in the Sussex League but not where it counts."

Ambrose acknowledges that having two strings to his bow can only help his career progress but, as far as his wicketkeeping is concerned, there are still plenty of rough edges to smooth out.

He said: "Raw talent has got me by so far, but in the future I want to be regarded as a wicketkeeper-batsmen. That's why it's a little disappointing that I haven't been able to keep wicket in more second team games."

There is no doubting Australia's pre-eminince in world cricket at the moment and Ambrose probably took the opportunity to remind some of his team-mates of the fact during the recent Ashes series. But as far as furthering his own career is concerned, there is only one place to be.

Sussex first picked him up last year after a family friend had set up the opportunity of playing Sussex League cricket for Eastbourne. He had trials for the county's Academy team and played a handful of second team games. Sussex liked what they saw and offered Ambrose a two-year contract when they knew that he qualified through his English-born mother.

He admitted: "I still call Australia home but, in terms of cricket. I've been given more opportunities over here than I could have expected in my entire life in Australia and I'll always be thankful for that."

But is he English enough to play for his adopted country should the call come one-day?

He laughed: "If that ever happened I think I'd say yes, but it's not something I'm even thinking about at the moment. All I'm worried about is improving my game."