John Simpson will captain Sussex as they start the new Championship season.

The vastly experienced wicketkeeper takes over after coming in from Middlesex.

England fast bowler Tymal Mills will skipper the Sharks in the T20 Vitality Blast.

Simpson has initially committed to lead the county in the opening batch of seven games, after which the situation will be reviewed.

Sussex head coach Paul Farbrace said: “It’s as much his decision as it is ours.

“He wants to make sure he is absolutely the right person to be captain.

“He also wants to make sure it allows him to be the player he wants to be, both as a keeper and as a batter.

“I think it is a very sensible decision.”

Mills worked closely with previous skipper Ravi Bopara.

The situation will be re-assessed if Mills is away with England at the T20 World Cup.

Farbrace said: “They are two excellent choices.

“They are two people who really want to do the job.

“They are two people with a vast amount of experience and knowledge and they have also got a lot of respect within our club, within our dressing room and people want to play for them.”

The club will speak to Tom Haines about leading the county in 50-overs cricket.