Australia's acting-captain Adam Gilchrist has joined Sussex opener Richard Montgomerie's growing number of admirers.

Montgomerie picked up the man of the match award and £500 for his first innings 157 but only after Australia had cruised to an eight wicket win over Sussex in the final county match of their tour at Hove yesterday.

It was Montgomerie's seventh century of the season and he is hoping his good form will be rewarded with a place in the England squad for the fourth Test against Australia at Headingley next week.

Gilchrist, who will lead the Aussies at Leeds in the absence of the injured Steve Waugh, said: "It's not for me to tell the England selectors who to pick and who not to pick.

"But Richard looked like a player in great form who is at ease with himself. We were certainly made to work hard on the first day."

Two declarations yesterday left Australia needing 337 in 68 overs, but they made a nonsense of their target with Gilchrist making 114 off 102 balls after promoting himself to opener and Ricky Ponting scoring an undefeated 147 in an eight wicket win.

Gilchrist added: "All credit to Chris Adams of Sussex for opening the game up and offering some entertainment to the patrons.

"Regardless of the result we have got a lot out of the last three days.

"There was time in the middle for Ricky and others including myself while Brett Lee and Damian Fleming bowled with a great deal of rhythm yesterday and that has given them a lot of confidence."

Meanwhile Sussex Chief Executive Dave Gilbert says he is 'disappointed' at the response to the three-day game.

Around 3,000 spectators attended on the first and third days while fewer than 1,000 watched the rain-affected play on Thursday.

Although Sussex exceeded the £20,000 they had budgeted for in gate receipts and made over £50,000 in corporate hospitality, Gilbert felt the public should have supported the match in greater numbers.