Former Zimbabwe batsman Murray Goodwin is Sussex's No.1 target to replace Michael Bevan.

The committee met last night to discuss their options after Bevan told them on Tuesday that he would be resting next summer and not returning until 2002 when he completes a three-year contract.

Sussex expected him to be on next season's Ashes tour anyway and have been putting some feelers out for several weeks.

And Goodwin has emerged at the top of their wanted list.

The 28-year-old retired from Test cricket at the end of this summer's series in England when he made his third Test century during the drawn match at Trent Bridge.

He made 1,414 Test runs at an average of 42.84 in 19 appearances for his country as well as making over 1,800 runs in 71 one-day internationals.

Although he was born in Salisbury (now Harare), Goodwin has played most of his cricket in Perth since moving to Australia as a 13-year-old.

He headed back there in June to prepare for a new Australian domestic season with Western Australia.

A product of the Australian Cricket Academy, he averaged 61.14 in five Sheffield Shield matches last winter and made a Test century against West Indies in March before making his decision to retire from international cricket.

Chief Executive Dave Gilbert said: "Murray looks a good option. When I mentioned him to Michael (Bevan) his first reaction was 'he's your man' and I don't think there are too many more better recommendations than that."

The constraints of an increasingly congested international calender means Sussex's options are limited if they are looking for someone who is going to be available for the whole summer.

Other possible targets include Goodwin's Western Australian team-mate Mike Hussey who scored over 900 Shield runs last season in just five games.

But Hussey has recently been given an ACB contract and there is a feeling that he could be on the Ashes tour next summer.

Another possible option is Matthew Elliott who made four centuries and scored over 1,000 runs to help Glamorgan win promotion to the first division this season.

The Welsh county are already committed to South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis for next season and Elliott, who took a century off Sussex at Colwyn Bay last month, would also solve the pressing need for an established opening batsman to partner Richard Montgomerie.

But, like Hussey, he could well be on the Ashes tour.

One player the county are definitely not interested in is Kallis's team-mate Lance Klusener.

For starters his wage demands would be too high and Sussex's over-riding priority is to find someone who can score plenty of runs. Klusener looks likely to finish up at Northamptonshire.

All the indications are that Goodwin could be heading to Hove. His grade club have already circulated his availability to all 18 counties and Gilbert has been told he is keen to spend a season playing in England.

Gilbert knows that Sussex must move fast with several counties also in the hunt for new overseas stars to replace Australians likely to be on next season's Ashes tour.

Worcestershire yesterday confirmed that they have signed Andy Bichel as fellow Australian Glenn McGrath's replacement while the probable absence of Darren Lehmann (Yorkshire), Justin Langer (Middlesex), Simon Katich (Durham), Matthew Hayden (Northamptonshire) and Shane Warne (Hampshire) leaves a whole host of clubs casting their net for next season.

Added Gilbert: "Whovever we go for, I'd be disappointed if we didn't get something sorted out by the end of the year at the very latest. We have got to act quickly."