Jason Lewry gets the chance to renew one of the most feared new ball partnerships in county cricket when Sussex start their Championship campaign tomorrow.

The left-armer will partner James Kirtley for only the second time in nearly 11 months against first division newcomers Middlesex at Lord's (11am).

Lewry's loss of form and Kirtley's broken hand and England call-up meant the pair played just five Championship games last summer. Kirtley's selection was a formality, but Lewry has held off the claims of fellow left-armer Paul Hutchison and Billy Taylor to claim his place.

Lewry took just 33 Championship wickets in 2002 and is anxious to put a poor season behind him.

He said: "I can't really say what was wrong last year. I had a knee injury which wouldn'y go away and a benefit to run but you can't blame that for my form.

"I just wasn'y my normal self but I plan to rectify that because I still feel I have got a lot to offer."

Lewry's performance in the last two warm-up games against Somerset and Cardiff got him the nod, but Moores had sympathy for Taylor in particular.

He said: "Billy was very close and count himself unlucky and the same applies in the batting to Michal Yardy. Both have worked really hard on their games and it's good that we have players so close to selection in such good form."

Sussex's squad includes both slow bowlers and the final place in the side will be between all-rounder Kevin Innes and off-spinner Mark Davis.

"If it's dry there's a good chance we could play both spinners," added Moores. "But we will leave that decision until we take a look at the wicket."

Mushtaq Ahmed makes his first-class debut fresh from an 11-49 match haul in the innings win over Cardiff UCCE at the weekend as Sussex chase their first opening game success since 1998.

Sussex: Montgomerie, Goodwin, Cottey, Adams, Ambrose, Martin-Jenkins, Prior, Innes or Davis, Ahmed, Lewry, Kirtley.

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