SUSSEX skipper Chris Adams is eyeing an immediate return to the first division when the National League campaign begins on Sunday.

The county began the final month of last season knowing that three wins in their final three matches would have earned them the title a year after Adams had lifted the second division silverware.

Instead, Sussex tumbled to defeats against Yorkshire, eventual champions Gloucestershire and Lancashire and ended up being relegated.

Sunday's opponents Worcestershire, who were leaders for the first half of the season, and Lancashire accompanied the county into Division Two.

Adams said: "Losing all three in a row like that and going from possible champions to relegation was very hard to take.

"But there is no reason why we can't bounce back straight away. I certainly think we have the squad to do well in one-day cricket."

Sussex will undoubtedly miss Michael Bevan after the Australian's astonishing contribution in 2000 when he scored 706 runs at an average-topping 117.66 with nine half-centuries.

On occasions it seemed as if only Bevan stood between Sussex and defeat, but it is also fair to say that his team-mates found it hard to adjust to his unique way of pacing an innings.

During the promotion season, the county usually had their run chase under control thanks to explosive hitting at the top of the innings from Adams and Michael Di Venuto.

Not so last season, although all-rounder Will House believes that Bevan's absence might bring out the best in some of the other batsman.

He said: "We came to rely on Bev a bit which was not ideal. On occasions it looked like we were hoping he would win a game for us on his own which occasionally he did.

"Without him everyone in the side is going to have to take a bit more responsibility as individuals and that is no bad thing."

It will be asking a lot of Bevan's locum Murray Goodwin to make quite as big an impact as the Australian.

But Goodwin has a pretty decent one-day record of his own, averaging 31.50 in domestic action and 27.13 in his 71 limited overs internationals for Zimbabwe.

During the winter he set a new Australian domestic record of 167 for Western Australia.

Adams said: "By his own admission Murray did not have the best of seasons with Western Australia in the winter and I know that he is very keen to prove his reputation over here.

"With Bev back next year, Murray is almost putting himself in the shop window with other counties. I think he is going to be a great asset for us."

The 28-year-old will open the innings with Richard Montgomerie, who needs 21 more runs to pass 3,000 in one-day cricket, allowing Adams to drop down to his favourite position at three.

Bas Zuiderent, who played in the final seven games of last season, should start the new campaign at No.4 and it will be interesting to see if Sussex continue to use Umer Rashid up the order after the tactic proved only a partial success in 2000.

Adams has no shortage of options when it comes to the attack with four experienced seamers, Rashid and fellow spinner Mark Davis and all-rounders like House and Michael Yardy to throw into the mix.

Adams said: "It's going to be a very competitive second division.

"We saw last season how quickly your position can change after a couple of results either way, but I don't think we should fear anyone. We have a good, balanced one-day squad, more depth in the batting and a lot of options."

l SUSSEX supporters who watch their cricket at Hove are going to have to wait for a taste of National League action.

Because the county have back-to-back home games at Arundel and Horsham in June, the first home match in the new Norwich Union-sponsored competition isn't until July 16 when Essex are the visitors for the first of four televised day-night games.

Before then Worcestershire visit Horsham on June 10 with Derbyshire the opponents a week later at Arundel.

The club have listened to requests from members who prefer their one-day cricket during the day.

Two matches at the end of the season, against Durham on August 26 and September three weeks later, will take place on Sundays.

The club offer special membership just for National League games at £45.00 and 82 people took up this offer last season.