Jason Gillespie says he can feel Brighton and Hove coming alive as he gets to know his new home.

Now his Sussex team can tee things up nicely for the return of cricket to the city – by shining against Leicestershire.

Sussex are at Grace Road today starting a Specsavers County Championship division two fixture in which they will look to build on a pretty positive opening draw at Warwickshire.

Then it all kicks off at home with Gloucestershire and Middlesex due at the 1st Central County Ground over successive weekends.

Gillespie, who turned 43 yesterday, took advantage of the time between the two trips to the Midlands to get out and about in the city. He has kept in shape with invigorating runs along Hove seafront.

And he can feel things warming up nicely for what Sussex followers will hope is a glorious summer on and off the pitch.

Gillespie told the Argus: “I’m getting to know the place.

“I’ve been really enjoying my runs along the seafront.

“It’s beautiful with the ocean and people out and about and there are some beautiful vegetarian and vegan places to eat in Brighton and Hove.

“You are always thinking about cricket, even when you’re running.

“You think about how you can help the players and help the team.

“But I put the music on and just go for it.

“It’s lovely – and you can feel there’s a bit of a buzz about the place.”

Whether Sussex join that buzz with an away win already to their name will depend on the men who played at Edgbaston.

Gillespie has named the 13 men from that fixture minus young bowler Will Sheffield.

Will Beer, who missed out against Warwickshire, has again travelled after getting in 16 overs for the second XI against Essex this week.

The match is Leicestershire’s first of the campaign and Gillespie is aware they will have that upbeat feel which comes with the start of a new season.

He said: “We are pretty excited about it. We know Leicestershire have not performed as well as they would have liked in the last few years but there has been some change of personnel on and off the field.

“There will be an air of optimism at Leicester.

“Any side that has Paul Nixon at the helm will not be a competitive unit, we are very conscious of that.

“It will be a tough challenge.

“All we can do is prepare well and make sure we are disciplined and consistent in our cricket.”

Gillespie’s days back in Hove included time at the 1st Central County Ground to watch the second team’s opening Championship fixture.

George Garton, having bowled just five overs in the Trophy defeat on Monday, was limited to six more in the first innings of the three-dayer. He is being eased back to full match fitness after recovering from a side problem and the aim is for him to feature for at least one of those opening home dates.

Gillespie makes the Middlesex match, from two weeks today, the more realistic target.

By contrast, Danny Briggs (knee) piled up 36 Championship overs and took 5-109.

Gillespie said: “George will keep building up his overs.

“There is another second team game next week.

“Whether he plays next Friday will depend how much cricket he gets between now and then.

“We will keep monitoring him through the medical staff.

“He’s a young kid who has not played a lot of first-class cricket.

“Danny has been doing well. He has bowled a lot of overs.

“I watched both Beero and Danny bowl during the second XI match. I thought they both bowled well.

“I’m concerned about getting as much cricket into Danny as I can.

“But, having bowled a lot of overs, you would assume he will be available for the next Championship team.”

Abi Sakande has travelled to Leicester to continue his treatment and rehab with the county physio as he recovers from soreness in his side.

Sussex: from Brown, Beer, Burgess, Finch, Robinson, Salt, Sharma, van Zyl, Whittingham, Wiese, Wells, Wright