SUSSEX skipper Chris Adams is heading for a showdown with England captain Nasser Hussain over fresh allegations about his behaviour.

Hussain has accused Adams of deliberately pushing Essex team-mate and ex-Sussex player Danny Law in the back during the Benson & Hedges Cup tie at Chelmsford on April 24.

Adams also faces a charge of verbal abuse, but will dispute Hussain's version of events when he appears before an English Cricket Board disciplinary hearing, on May 30 at Lord's.

David Laing, an established Brighton-based sports lawyer, is acting on Adams behalf.

Laing revealed to the Argus: "Chris is most upset about the allegations and very strongly disputes the substance of them.

"The proceedings will be contested. I will be calling Chris and other witnesses to verify his version of what happened.

"No definite decision has been made as to who is going to be called, because we don't know exactly what is being said against us at the moment.

"I cannot go into the details, but we are sure we will get a fair, independent hearing at Lord's."

The incident is alleged to have taken place after Law was caught off a full toss from James Kirtley during a convincing Sussex victory in which Adams scored a hundred.

The two umpires, Tony Clarkson and Vanburn Holder, did not see it, but it was brought to their attention by Hussain and mentioned in their report. Essex also sent a letter to Lord's.

Dave Gilbert Sussex's general manager, said: "I wasn't at the game myself, but people that were are quite taken aback by the allegations fired off at Chris by Nasser Hussain.

"Chris is refuting them staunchly and we are supporting that with legal back-up."

The ECB's disciplinary committee, chaired by Gerard Elias QC, were originally due to consider the case last week, but Sussex asked for more time for Adams to seek legal advice and prepare his defence.

Laing, a partner in Dean Wilson Laing based in Church Street, Brighton, and president of Brighton Brunswick Cricket Club, acted for John Snow, Sussex's former England fast bowler and current vice-chairman, in the 1970's.

He successfully defended Martin Dugard when the Eastbourne speedway rider was accused of punching Kings Lynn rival Stefan Andersson in an incident at Arlington last November and also works for the Great Britain swimming team.

The Argus revealed yesterday that the ECB are taking no action against Adams over a row with umpire David Constant at Hove last Saturday during the Championship defeat by Warwickshire.

Adams confronted Constant in the umpires' room at tea after he was given out lbw off the last ball before the interval. He went back at the end of play to apologise.

Barry Leadbeater, chairman of the First Class Cricket Umpires Association, is planning to talk to Constant and George Sharp, the other umpire.

"Just because he (Adams) has apologised doesn't mean to say the matter is closed," Leadbeater said.

Adams comes face-to-face with Hussain at Chelmsford next week when Sussex play Essex in the Championship.

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