Mushtaq Ahmed today revealed how returning to his Sussex family' has helped him recover from the most traumatic month of his career.

The 36-year-old leg-spinner lines up against MCC at Lord's today still coming to terms with the death of Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer.

Woolmer was found dead in his hotel bedroom in Jamaica on March 18, the day after Pakistan had lost to Ireland and crashed out of the World Cup.

His death is still being treated as murder by Jamaican police and an inquest will be held on April 23.

Mushtaq had been Woolmer's assistant since he was re-appointed to the Pakistan coaching set-up in January.

He said: "Every time I think about Bob and what happened to him it depresses me, it is very hard to talk about it.

"I had great feelings for him. He was part of our Pakistan cricketing family and a great man.

"As a coach, to take the Pakistan team from seventh in the world rankings to third in three-and-a-half years was a great achievement.

"He was the best coach I ever worked with. All I hope is that they discover what happened to him as quickly as possible.

"It has been a very difficult month for me. But things are slightly better now that I am back with the Sussex family.

"Going out on the field and doing my best for Sussex is my chance to escape from all the other things.

"To be honest, what has happened in the past few weeks has given me even more hunger for playing cricket and I can't wait for the season to start.

"Playing is my bread and butter and when I'm out there in the middle that's all that I'm thinking about."

Mushtaq returned to Hove for the start of his fifth summer with the county on Wednesday and there is no indication that it will be his last.

He has the option of playing on in 2008 and although only the most optimistic Sussex supporter expect him to emulate his record-breaking achievements of 2006, the desire to do so is still there.

Since propelling the county to the first of two Championships in his debut season in 2003 he has taken a remarkable 367 Championship wickets.

When he claimed a career-best 9-48 in the title-clinching win over Nottinghamshire last September, he became the first bowler since Courtney Walsh to take more than 100 wickets in a season twice. And he did it despite bowling 213 fewer overs than in 2003, when he took 103 wickets.

He admits his preparations for the the new season are behind schedule. "Normally I start my training two months before I arrive here but that has not been possible this year," he said.

"So I'm a little behind and I will probably need another couple of weeks because I know there is some hard work ahead.

"But everyone at Sussex knows I always try to give 100 per cent.

"I never think someone else is going to do the job for me. It is my responsibility and I have to deliver my best. And I know that if I work hard I will be rewarded."

With a record as good as his, it goes without saying that Mushtaq's performances are going to be crucial to Sussex's chances of defending both the Championship and the Friends Provident Trophy.

But this season he will have another world-class spinner to share the slow bowling burden with.

Mushtaq and compatriot Saqlain Mushtaq have not played in the same side since 2001 when Pakistan played New Zealand in a Test match in Auckland.

Saqlain does not become qualified until next month when he gets an English passport and can play under an EU registration. But the prospect clearly excites Mushtaq.

"Saqlain joining us is good news," he said. "He is very hungry and passionate and when you have that as well as the talent you will always expect him to deliver the best.

"He can help the young off-spinners we have here like Ollie Rayner and Tom Smith and he's also very friendly and down-to-earth so he will be a great team man as well.

"He has a great record in international and county cricket. He has had some injury problems but when he gets fully fit he has the potential to have the same impact as I have had for Sussex. And he is bowling his doosra again which is great news."

So who is the better bowler of the two?

Saqlain has undoubtedly been robbed of some of his prime years by the injury problems which forced him to have re-constructive surgery in both knees. But he effectively replaced Mushtaq as Pakistan's first-choice spinner nearly a decade ago and there is a healthy mutual admiration which can only benefit Sussex.

Mushtaq added: "I have a lot of respect for him and feel lucky to have the opportunity to play with him.

"And he's definitely a much better bowler than me. He has helped me a lot and at times has been an inspiration for me."

It seems strange to hear Mushtaq talk about another player in those terms bearing in mind the inspiration he has been to Sussex cricket since 2003.

And despite a traumatic few weeks, it appears he will continue to be so.

"I have a renewed passion this season for playing and taking wickets," he said. "2006 was a great season but I have to forget about that. If we are going to be as successful again I will have to work harder but I'm looking forward to that challenge."