Billy Taylor made a crucial breakthrough for Sussex at the Oval today, only to limp out of the action a few moments later.

The Sussex seamer removed Surrey opener Jon Batty in his sixth over but pulled up in his run-up clutching his thigh a couple of overs later.

Director of cricket Peter Moores confirmed that Taylor had strained his quad muscle but hoped he would be able to resume bowling later today after intensive physio.

It was the last thing skipper Chris Adams needed after he had lost the toss this morning. Conditions for batting were perfect but Taylor and Kirtley made good use of the new ball to reduce the first division leaders to 22-2 with wickets in successive overs.

Kirtley found enough seam movement in the 11th over to find the edge of Ian Ward's bat as the former England opener was drawn forward and Tim Ambrose took a good low catch diving to his left at second slip.

Taylor struck in the next over when Batty, who made an unbeaten 168 against Essex last week, was comfortably taken at second slip by Adams off a delivery well outside off stump which he could comfortably have left alone.

Taylor's injury apart, Sussex had started as well as Adams could have hoped against the champions and the accuracy of their new ball attack was such that Mark Ramprakash had faced 28 balls before getting off the mark with a boundary off Robin Martin-Jenkins who had replaced Taylor at the Vauxhall End.

Graham Thorpe looked in ominnously good form though. Fresh from his hundred in the C&G Trophy this week, the left-hander struck successive boundaries when Martin-Jenkins completed Taylor's over before straight-driving the all-rounder in classical style for another four.

Thorpe was one of ten internationals named by a Surrey side chasing their fourth Championship pennant in the last five years.

As expected, Sussex left-hander Michael Yardy came in for his first Championship appearance since last July after Tony Cottey failed a fitness test on his sore back. All-rounder Kevin Innes, replaced Mark Davis as Sussex decided to go in with just one spinner in Mushtaq Ahmed.