Skipper Chris Adams hopes the surgery he had last week will put an end to the knee problem which has plagued him for much of his Sussex career.

Adams had a minor operation at a hospital near Gatwick last Saturday to repair a small tear to the cartilage on his left knee which he suffered after his knee buckled when he fell while bowling in the nets at Hove three weeks ago.

By Monday, Adams already had a better range of movement in the knee than he has experienced for several months.

He joined his team-mates at Headingley this week to begin a series of exercises designed to strengthen the knee.

The skipper is now on course to return for the Championship match against champions Yorkshire at Arundel which starts on Wednesday week.

Adams decided to go under the surgeon's knife less than 24 hours after seeing a consultant.

He had begun making tentative plans for a comeback after suffering the injury while Sussex were preparing for the Benson and Hedges Cup quarter-final against Warwickshire on May 22.

He said: "I had started to do some running, but the knee became swollen which was an obvious sign that the cartilage was damaged.

"The tibia and fibula had met and that had caused the bruising. If I had not had the operation it could have been another two or three weeks rest anyway so we decided to have the surgery."

Adams has suffered from a dodgy left knee for as long as he can remember.

It has been unusual in the last couple of years not to see him icing the knee or getting it heavily strapped during breaks between sessions of play.

"He has even tried acupuncture to ease his discomfort.

He added: "Getting the injury has been a blessing in disguise in a way. It's a shame we didn't get it sorted out earlier.

"Even on Monday it felt a lot better than it has for ages which is really positive.

"I'm going to do some exercises which will make the knee even stronger."

At 32 and seven short of 600 games for Derbyshire and Sussex under his belt, it is no surprise that Adams is suffering from a bit of wear and tear.

What has made it even more frustrating is that the injury came when he was enjoying arguably his best form since coming to Hove in 1998.

He scored hundreds in the opening Championship games against Surrey and Somerset before trumping those performances with a brilliant 217 against Lancashire.

In his absence, the Sussex middle order suddenly looks a little vulnerable, despite the efforts at Headingley this week.

The three one-day games in successive days at the end of next week give Adams the opportunity to have a knock before the next Championship match.

It is more likely he will test his fitness in the unlikely surroundings of the RAF ground at Vine Lane in Uxbridge on Monday week in a Second XI Trophy match against Middlesex Young Pros.

Adams has praised the performance of his stand-in James Kirtley at a difficult time both for the fast bowler and the team.

Kirtley could do little wrong when he skippered the side last season when Adams missed three games after he suffered a broken thumb in the opening match and the the Championship game against Worcestershire at Horsham because of a family bereavement.

The county embarked on a seven-match unbeaten run after that victory.

A year on they were still looking for their first win since promotion when Kirtley took up the reins again in a four-wicket defeat against Kent at Tunbridge Wells a fortnight ago.

Adams said: "It has been difficult for James this season.

"He is under scrutiny a bit more after what happened in the winter with his action and he is trying to get himself back in the frame for the England one-day side.

"He is fortunate that there are a few experienced guys in the side who can give him advice such as Murray Goodwin and Tony Cottey so, if he wants help, it is there for him.

"Don't get me wrong, he's doing a good job. You don't see many opening bowlers around who captain their teams too but he has done it really well."