Chris Adams' place in Sussex's history is secure after he led them to their first Championship last season.

Now the 34-year-old is poised to achieve a noteable personal milestone by becoming the joint longest-serving captain in the county's 165-year history.

Adams has confirmed that he wants to lead the side again next season which would be his eighth in charge.

Apart from Arthur Gilligan, who led Sussex from 1922-30, no one has had more continued years' service in the top job.

He is already the longest-serving county captain following the resignation of Surrey's Adam Hollioake and Mark Alleyne, of Gloucestershire, at the end of last season.

Unlike most modern players, Adams does have a strong sense of the traditions and history of the game and it will be a proud moment for him if he were to extend his captaincy reign beyond 2005 and become Sussex's longest-serving skipper.

More importantly, though, his enthusiasm to do the job remains undiminished.

Adams considered stepping down after leading Sussex to the title a year ago. He was wiped out, physically and mentally.

"Last year took a lot out of me," he said. "I did seriously think about going out on a high. But that wouldn't have been fair on the players or the club who have backed me and deserved some loyalty in return."

As he suspected at the time, a winter away from cricket for the first time in years was all he needed to re-charge his batteries.

Although Sussex are unlikely to retain their title this year, they are on course for a top-three finish. That represents the sort of consistency Adams and director of cricket Peter Moores are trying to bring to Hove. And while they have again missed out on promotion in the totesport League, there is no doubt that one-day performances are improving.

"I have said to the club that I see myself doing the job as long as they want me to," revealed Adams.

"If someone else stepped forward then I'd happily stand down, but at the moment I'd be delighted to carry on next year and maybe beyond. Who knows?"

No one is indespensible, of course, but the lack of alternatives would only seem to strengthen Adams' position.

Ian Ward turned down the captaincy at Somerset to join Sussex a year ago. But he came to Hove because he thought playing first division cricket for a higher profile county would improve his prospects of an international recall, not because he fancied becoming Sussex captain.

Ward is also developing his TV career which can be a time consuming business. He may decide that it suits him to remain in the ranks.

Vice-captain James Kirtley is a more likely successor to Adams, but not just yet. He has a shrewd cricketing brain and when Adams has been absent through injury in the past has done a sound job. But his priority must surely be to recapture his best form with the ball.

Matt Prior, who is maturing fast and has the strong personality which all captains need, is certainly one for the future, but not for a while.

The alternative would be to look elsewhere which is exactly what Sussex did when they lured Adams from Derbyshire back in 1997.

But Moores has already been told to trim his playing budget next year which precludes signing the sort of big name which might be attracted to what has become one of the top jobs in the domestic game.

Of course, for every champagne celebration there is a always a member ready to harangue the captain over poor shot selection or a dodgy bowling change - usually when he is trying to unwind with a pint in the Sussex Cricketer after the game.

Even his critics, and there are a few in the deckchairs at Hove, would agree that Adams' captaincy has improved beyond recognition from those early days. He deserves his place among the greats who have led the county.

"It can be very stressful at times, more so than perhaps people on the outside might imagine," he said.

"But it's also hugely rewarding. I love doing it and would be delighted to carry on. Obviously, in a year's time if someone stood out we'd have to take a look at it again."

And when he does step down, it might be a fitting tribute to his contribution to Sussex cricket that the new stand at the sea end is named after the player poised to become the longest-serving captain in the county's history.