Paul Farbrace says Sussex are ready for the Championship’s top flight after going up as champions.

Centuries from Tom Haines and James Coles helped them secure the points required at home to Middlesex on the final day of the season.

Head coach Farbrace said: “Last year we put down some good foundations. We had our disciplinary issues and that cost us points as did our poor over rate.

“We got the same number of points as Worcestershire, but I didn’t feel we weren’t ready to go up.

“We want to be playing against the best teams and I believe we now have a team of division one cricketers.

“It will be a challenge of course, but we have a team ready to go up and one with a lot more experience which will hopefully help us do more than just compete next season.

“I’m pleased we got the trophy at Hove. Our supporters and members have had some tough times so they deserve this.”

Haines made 105 – his third hundred of the season – and Coles hit an unbeaten 132 as Sussex finished the season undefeated at the 1st Central County Ground after drawing with Middlesex.

They began the final day on 112 for two, needing to reach 250 and a fourth bonus point to ensure promotion as champions.

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There was a slight sense of anti-climax shortly after lunch when Luke Hollman overstepped and the two no balls took Sussex to 250, but the celebrations out in the middle, where Coles and skipper John Simpson embraced warmly, and on the pavilion balcony showed what it meant as Sussex returned to Division One after a nine-year absence.

Sussex finished 20 points clear of Yorkshire, having won eight of their 14 games.