Sussex fast bowler Mohammad Akram is facing disciplinary action over ball tampering.

Umpires Peter Willey and Barrie Leadbeater have reported the 31-year-old for altering the condition of the ball during the first day of the county's Championship match with Warwickshire at Horsham last week.

A five-run penalty was imposed on Sussex after the umpires changed the ball in the 66th over of Warwickshire's first innings.

Now they have charged Akram with a level two offence which carries a three-point penalty under the ECB's disciplinary code.

The penalty will be in force for 12 months but Akram would have to accumulate nine points before he served a two-match suspension.

Sussex have also filed a report to the ECB's discipline standing committee. No appeal is allowed, the county's only defence would appear to be a case of mistaken identity.

Skipper Chris Adams is standing by his bowler and believes the umpires reacted too quickly.

He insists that the marks on the ball were caused by the abrasive nature of the Horsham pitch.

He said: "I respect both umpires who have an opinion which they are entitled to, but I will stand steadfast alongside my players.

"I've questioned all of them and to a man they are adamant that they did not alter the condition of the ball deliberately.

"I was brought up to respect the principles of the game and I am not interested in winning matches in an inappropriate manner.

"I think umpires are right to come down on this sort of thing, but the pitch was very abrasive and maybe this is an occasion when you try to stop something but take a few down with you who aren't guilty."

Meanwhile, Adams is confident his Sussex side will soon start to climb the Championship table.

The county are still without a victory in defence of their title after their latest game against Warwickshire petered out into a draw at Horsham on Saturday.

They go into tomorrow's match against Northamptonshire at Hove (11am) in seventh place, just four points more than bottom of the table Gloucestershire and two clear of their next opponents.

"People will look at the table and be concerned because after this week we will have played six matches, but I don't think there is too much wrong with us at the moment," said Adams.

"We need to get on the sort of roll we had last season when we seemed to win games almost without thinking about it. We can't work any harder than we are and morale in the squad is good. A win this week would put us in a good position and that's what we're targetting."

Sussex are considering resting Akram and bringing back left-armer Jason Lewry but Tim Ambrose is expected to retain his place despite an indifferent start to the season with bat and gloves.

Ambrose was dropped for yesterday's totesport League match against Leicestershire when Matt Prior kept wicket.

Sussex were bowled out for 562 on Saturday, a deficit of 38, after extending their first innings until the stroke of lunch.

Mushtaq Ahmed made 62 but hobbled off after being struck on the toe when Alan Richardson had him leg before. The Pakistani leg-spinner did not bowl in Warwickshire's second innings because of a stomach bug.

With no prospect of a result, Ian Bell and Nick Knight settled for an extended net after lunch and both made half-centuries as Warwickshire closed on 188-2 second time around.

"Chasing 600 and having to get 450 just to avoid the follow-on creates mental pressure if nothing else, but I thought we played well," said Adams.

"Personally, I felt I needed a score even though it's been a good start in the Championship for me despite the lack of cricket we've played."