To be honest, with all that I've got on my plate this season there are occasions when I don't know whether I'm coming or going and the summer is only a couple of weeks old!

As well as the challenge of captaining Sussex, I've also got a benefit to run, of which more later, and lots of PCA emails and memos to regularly gen up on in my new role as captains' advisor to our players' union.

Oh, I nearly forgot. I'm also in the process of moving for the fourth time since I came to the south coast. Hopefully it will be the last, but you'd better ask the missus that!

Sports Argus readers don't want to read about my house move though, so we'll start with what's really important - Sussex cricket.

I was delighted with the way we played against Kent in our home Championship opener last week. I told the boys afterwards that you can't build character.

You've either got it or you haven't and I think this Sussex squad have got it in spades.

At important stages of the game, when the balance could have been tipped either way, someone stepped forward and did a job for us. Murray Goodwin's 96 in the second innings was effectively a match-winning one and then on the third day, when Ed Smith and Greg Blewett, were threatening to bat Kent to victory Mushtaq Ahmed made the breakthrough and James Kirtley finished them off.

I was really pleased that Mushy was able to enjoy such a good debut in his first appearance in front of our supporters. He wasn't quite at his best at Lord's a fortnight ago, but, considering the infected nail on the index finger of his left hand, it was amazing he could even hold the ball never mind bowl it.

I drove Mushy to Southampton last week for the NUL game against Hampshire and it was a very revealing trip. He told me that when he first arrived to play county cricket for Somerset at the age of 23 he couldn't speak a word of English.

He still has trouble writing and reading the language, but his oral skills, picked up simply through conversation, are remarkable. He occasionally gets his words mixed up which causes a few laughs in the dressing room, but sometimes it gives what he says more emphasis. What is clear is Mushy's enthusiasm.

By the end of the season some of us close fielders might be wearing ear plugs when he's bowling and appealing in that unique way of his.

There was a funny moment at Lord's last week with one of the umpires, Barry Duddleston.

Mushy had just appealed for a leg before and Duds turned round to him and said: "Mushy, I will always answer your appeal, but you don't have to ask me twice!"

I'm pleased to report that my benefit year is going well and I'd like to thank everyone who has supported my events so far, particularly the Launch Ball in February which was a fantastic night.

I've spoken to a few of the other beneficiaries and they have all mentioned how hard it is in these uncertain economic times to get people to support benefit functions.

Once they are there they enjoy themselves and contribute to the coffers, but I must admit there aren't many moments in the day when I'm not thinking about something to do with the benefit. My next event is a London dinner this Friday.

We've got a top line-up including Geoff Miller, the former England spinner, and Nick Leeson. Nick's speech should be entertaining but I don't think I'll ask for advice on how to invest my benefit cheque.

Finally, a word about the latest innovation introduced by our physio Stuart Osborne who spent the winter in Australia looking after the England Academy players.

They are called jet skins, but you might know them better as black tights! Apparently they have the same effect as the socks you wear on long-haul flights to combat deep vein thombrosis.

Ossie has instructed us to wear them every time we get into a car and head off to an away game. Just don't ask any of us to model them.