Sussex will be without star bowler Chris Jordan as they bid to get their County Championship campaign off to a flying start tomorrow.

England have asked for Jordan to be rested for the clash with Middlesex at Hove after he returned from playing in the World Twenty20 in Bangladesh on Tuesday.

Jordan also toured Australia and the West Indies during the winter but Sussex hope he will be made available for their second match against Warwickshire at Edgbaston.

It means Sussex will be without three key players for their opening division one match with vice-captain Chris Nash and England all-rounder Luke Wright sidelined by injury.

Jordan’s absence means all-rounder Steffan Piolet is likely to make his Championship debut for Sussex although left-arm seamer Lewis Hatchett is another option.

Coach Mark Robinson has also confirmed that Matt Prior will play as a specialist batsman as he manages a long-standing Achilles injury so Ben Brown will keep wicket.