Robin Martin-Jenkins will still have a part to play in the Championship run-in despite being axed from the Sussex side for the first time in more than three years.

Director of cricket Peter Moores believes the all-rounder will come back better and stronger after paying the price for a run of poor form with both bat and ball.

Martin-Jenkins' run of 47 successive four-day appearances, stretching back to August 2001, came to an end at Lord's yesterday where Sussex preferred fit-again Jason Lewry for the crucial match against Middlesex.

His absence puts more pressure on the top order batsmen, but Ian Ward responded with an unbeaten 120 while Murray Goodwin needs just one run today to complete his first Championship century of the season when Sussex resume on 252-2.

The absence of Luke Wright on England under-19 duty this week appeared to have given Martin-Jenkins a reprieve even though he has taken just two wickets in his last four games and scored just one half-century all season.

But Lewry made a quicker than expected recovery from knee surgery 16 days ago while off-spinner Mark Davis was always going to form a twin spin threat with Mushtaq Ahmed on a used Lord's wicket which was turning, albeit slowly, in the first session yesterday.

Martin-Jenkins took 4-39 in Sunday's totesport League win over Derbyshire - his best one-day figures of the season - but the die had already been cast and when Lewry declared himself fit, Sussex opted to for a three-pronged seam attack which meant no place for Martin-Jenkins.

Only opener Richard Montgomerie and Goodwin have had a longer unbroken run in the Championship team than the 28-year-old.

Moores said: "This will allow Robin to take a step back for a few days and get himself sorted because we need him to be strong for the rest of the season.

"It was a tough decision, but everyone has to accept that we have a strong squad with players suitable for any wicket we are playing on.

"At Canterbury last week he looked tired and that is probably as much frustration at not performing as anything physical. Knowing Robin, he will come back better and stronger. There's no hidden agenda, he has been a great player for us and we look on this as a real positive for him.

"No one would argue that Lewry, James Kirtley and Mohammad Akram is our strongest seam attack. We've picked a very aggressive attack because it's a game we feel we can win."

The dilemma for Sussex will come next week when they take on Worcestershire at Hove. It is inconceivable they would change a winning team should Sussex beat Middlesex while the emergence of Wright, who outbowled Martin-Jenkins on his debut at Canterbury last week, means he now faces genuine competition for his place as the player who balances the team.

Chris Adams won a crucial toss yesterday and Sussex took advantage of what should be the best batting conditions of the match.

It was not all plain sailing after the morning session had been lost to rain. The Sussex batsmen were expecting a stern examination of both their technique and temperament from Glenn McGrath and the Australian did not disappoint.

Injury may have robbed McGrath of some of his pace, but no one in world cricket probes away outside off stump with such metronomic accuracy.

Fortunately for Sussex, the hosts had no one to match McGrath's consistency.

Simon Cook struck with the new ball when he pinned Montgomerie in the fourth over and Mel Betts had Tony Cottey caught at slip pushing forward in the 18th.

But Ward was rarely inconvenienced as he progressed to his fourth century for Sussex, but first since mid-May when he batted all day to defy Northamptonshire at Hove. He has hit 14 boundaries and a six so far, but no doubt the two fours he collected in the same McGrath over will have given him most pleasure.