Sussex skipper Chris Adams believes in-form opener Richard Montgomerie should set his sights on playing for England.

Montgomerie took his runs total in all competitions to exactly 700 on Saturday with an unbeaten 88 as Sussex's Championship match against Hampshire fizzled out into a draw.

It was hard to equate how Montgomerie might do against the likes of Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee as he faced the combined bowling might of Hampshire batsmen Will Kendall and Lawrence Prittipaul and wicketkeeper Adrian Aymes as the contest at the Rosebowl died a slow, lingering death.

But there's no doubt the 29-year-old, in his third season with the county, is enjoying some of the best form of his career.

He has scored 367 runs in seven Championship innings at an average of 52.4 and made another 333 in other matches before yesterday's Norwich Union League game against Glamorgan.

Adams said: "I think Monty should set his sights high and aim to play international cricket.

"There aren't too many solid opening batsmen around and all it needs for him to be considered is to make the 1,300 runs he is capable of making this season.

"If something happens to the likes of Mike Atherton, Marcus Trescothick or Nick Knight I can't think there are too many more options.

"Monty is in tremendous form and, although he's not in the England frame at the moment, there's no reason why he won't be if he continues getting good scores."

Montgomerie would have almost certainly scored a second successive Championship century had bad light not forced the players off for nine overs after tea.

But it is unlikely he would have valued it as highly as the ton he made against Warwickshire a week ago or the 13 other first-class hundreds which preceded it.

The match was effectively over when Hampshire decided to extend their first innings on Saturday.

All that was left was for Montgomerie and Michael Yardy to massage their averages as Robin Smith and his side went through the motions during the afternoon.

Aymes even handed the wicketkeeping gloves to Derek Kenway during the final session so he could bowl one over before the 50 or so spectators, who had hung around until the end, could be put out of their misery.

Hampshire, with two wins already in the second division, weren't keen to gamble on a third and Adams, if his side had been in the same position, admitted he would probably have adopted similar tactics.

He said: "It's frustrating because we needed to win to gain ground on them.

"We did everything right by getting a big total on the board and had we forced them to follow on then the final day might have been quite interesting.

"We worked hard for three days, but credit to them. They are a very solid batting team but seemed quite happy with a draw, especially with Alan Mullally out of their attack in our second innings."

In the end, the flat pitch was the winner.

There can't have been many Sussex games in which only one catch was taken by a fielder behind the wicket.

More than 1,100 runs were scored with Hampshire's No.10 Alex Morris able to score a career-best 65 before he was castled by James Kirtley, who took the last two wickets as the home side were bowled out for 437.

There was a scare for Sussex when Murray Goodwin was hit on the end of the right thumb by Dimitri Mascerenhas and he came off as a precaution measure. It meant easy pickings for Montgomerie and Yardy, who both hit seven boundaries apiece before proceedings were brought to a merciful halt.

Sussex 500-7 dec (Goodwin 195, Martin-Jenkins 56 not out, Montgomerie 56) and 179-0 (Montgomerie 88 not out, Yardy 75 not out).

Hampshire 437 (White 141, Morris 60, Johnson 60, Martin-Jenkins 4-77).

Hampshire (8pts) drew with Sussex (10pts).