Sussex found themselves in early trouble at Lord's today after they lost three wickets in six overs on the first day of their Championship opener against Middlesex.

Richard Montgomerie and Murray Goodwin appeared to have blunted Middlesex's new ball threat when they put on 37 in 13 overs without too many alarms after Chris Adams had won the toss.

But Australian Joe Dawes made the breakthrough when he had Goodwin caught at slip and Sussex then lost two wickets in two balls as they slumped to 41-3.

Montgomerie was caught behind off the last ball of the 18th over to give Chad Keegan his first success.

And Dawes struck again with the first ball of the 19th when he had Tony Cottey leg before for a 13-ball duck.

It was an impressive comeback by the Middlesex pair who hadn't looked particularly threatening early on.

Montgomerie was slightly fortunate to get away with a leaden-footed chinese cut off Keegan in the fourth over which brought him his first boundary.

But there was more assurance in the leg side clip off Dawes in the seventh which raced to the short boundary on the Grandstand side.

Goodwin, as usual, was more cautious early on but a deliberate steer through the gully off Dawes in the seventh over brought him his first boundary.

To be fair, both bowlers maintained accurate off side lines with the new ball but a slow, green-tinged pitch didn't appear to be offering too much assistance and when Keegan strayed well outside off stump in the 12th over Goodwin rocked back to drive him off the back foot to the much longer boundary on the Tavern side.

Sussex appeared to have done the hard work, but in the 13th over the burly Dawes was rewarded when he unhinged Goodwin with extra seam movement and Owais Shah took a very good catch at first slip at shoulder height off a thick edge.

Suddenly it became hard work for the batsmen and just four runs were scored off the next five overs.

Montgomerie had moved onto 20 from 53 balls when he followed a good length ball from Keegan and David Nash ran in front of slip to snap up the edge.

It got worse for Sussex. Dawes, who was the third highest wicket-taker in Australian domestic cricket this winter, straightened the first ball of the next over and Cottey could have no complaints when umpire John Holder upheld the lbw appeal.

Adams and Tim Ambrose were faced with a tricky rebuilding job and they were pleased to see the back of Dawes who took his sweater after 11 overs with figures of 2-24.

Adams guided Keegan through gully for his first boundary and then Ambrose collected successive fours through the off side when Simon Cook replaced Dawes at the pavilion end.

Sussex opted to play an extra seamer rather than two spinners which meant Kevin Innes got the nod ahead of Mark Davis.

Middlesex, newly promoted to Division One, kept the side which drew with Essex at Chelmsford in their opener.

Pakistani all-rounder Abdul Razzaq is their second overseas player and is due to bat at No6.