Captain Luke Wright has been ruled out of Sussex’s opening County Championship match at Northamptonshire with a back injury.

Wright aggravated a long-standing problem on the flight home from New Zealand last month and missed the two friendly matches against Surrey and Hampshire.

The former England international did play in the three-day game against Leeds/Bradford MCCU after declaring his fitness for the start of the season but has suffered a relapse.

It means vice-captain Ben Brown will lead the side for the first time as Sussex bid to improve their poor record at Wantage Road where they have only won once in their last 15 visits.

Brown will lead a Sussex side also missing experienced batsman Chris Nash with Harry Finch - who made a century against Leeds/Bradford MCCU - getting an opportunity.

Teenage seamer George Garton will also make his County Championship debut after being preferred to Lewis Hatchett while spinner Danny Briggs plays in a five-man bowling attack. 

Overnight rain has delayed the start until 11.30am with Brown electing to bowl first under new ECB rules.

Sussex: Wells, Joyce, Machan, Taylor, Finch, Brown, Shahzad, Robinson, Briggs, Magoffin, Garton.