Richard Montgomerie and Murray Goodwin got Sussex off to a flying start in their top-of-the-table County Championship Division One clash with Surrey at Hove.

The opening pair traded mainly through the offside as they put on a century stand from 20 overs in the first 90 minutes after Chris Adams had chosen to bat first on a sunny morning at the County Ground.

Surrey's new-ball pair Martin Bicknell and James Ormond had no answer to Sussex's attacking intent on a pitch of even pace and bounce as a flurry of early boundaries had the hosts rattling along at five an over.

One ferocious pull by Goodwin off Bicknell and a square-drive by Montgomerie off Ormond were just one prime example of each of the Sussex openers' array of shots.

It was no surprise therefore when Surrey captain Adam Hollioake made the first change by bringing himself on for Bicknell at the Cromwell Road end in the 15th over, but it didn't stop Goodwin moving to an excellent half-century.

The suspicion was that Sussex had won an important toss in a match featuring two spinners on either side who can be expected to play prominent roles.

Surrey left out Ally Brown to accommodate the in-form Ormond as one of only three frontline seamers while James Kirtley took his place for Sussex even though he is on standby for the second Test at Lord's should any injuries befall England's bowlers.

Sussex got a boost before the start when Tim Ambrose declared himself fit after missing the weekend draw against Nottinghamshire because of a twisted knee.

He replaced Michael Yardy who headed off to Taunton to play for the second XI against Somerset.

Surrey's Mark Ramprakash has been reprimanded by the England and Wales Cricket Board for "using language or a gesture that is obscene or of a serious insulting nature".

The batsman was reported during his team's drawn Frizzell County Championship Division One match against Middlesex last week.