Matt Prior will start the new season with Sussex.

Coach Mark Robinson expects the England wicketkeeper to be available for county duty and has pencilled him in for Sussex’s FP Trophy opener against Gloucestershire on April 19.

Prior returned home yesterday from England’s tour of West Indies and will have some time off with his new family over the next few days.

Robinson said: “Matt should be with us at Bristol on the 19th. I’m not expecting England to put any restrictions on his appearances and neither is Matt.

“All the conversations I and (skipper) Mike Yardy have had with him have been about when he will be back with us after he’s had some time off.”

Sussex are again likely to be without several players when they face Northamptonshire in a two-day friendly at Hove today (11am).

Chris Nash (hamstring), Pepler Sandri (calf) and Jason Lewry (virus) are all sidelined but Luke Wright has been given the green light to resume bowling after injuring his ankle on England A’s tour to New Zealand last month.

Sussex hope to name a short-term overseas replacement for Yasir Arafat this week but Corey Collymore’s return date is unknown while he waits for a work permit.