Sussex's countdown to the new season is under way as several senior players head off to South Africa today.

The county will play four 50-overs friendlies over the next fortnight.

Some of their top players are still involved in competitions elsewhere.

The trip also includes warm-weather training ahead of the new campaign.

A 16-man Sussex squad in Cape Town includes three young professionals.

Their opening fixture is against Western Province Academy on Wednesday at the Vineyard Oval.

The same ground is then the venue for two matches against Middlesex a week tomorrow and a week on Monday.

Durham MCCU provide the opposition at Claremont Cricket Club on Wednesday, March 21.

Will Beer, Ben Brown (above), Harry Finch, Tom Haines and coach Mike Yardy are already in South Africa, where they have been training.

The group of players joining them this weekend includes young pros Jack Carson, an off-spinning all-rounder, and left-arm seamers Adam Barton and Will Sheffield.

Chris Jordan, Tymal Mills and David Wiese are not involved as they take part in the Pakistan Super League.

Laurie Evans and Delray Rawlins are in the Caribbean for the ECB’s North-South series, Stiaan van Zyl is playing domestic cricket in South Africa and Stuart Whittingham is with Scotland in the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe.

Sussex’s playing party in South Africa includes Jofra Archer, Danny Briggs, Michael Burgess, George Garton, Ollie Robinson, Abi Sakande, Phil Salt, Luke Wells and Luke Wright.

The county’s first friendly date back in this country is a two-dayer with Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl on March 26 and 27.

They have games at Hove against Hampshire (two-dayer from March 29), Loughborough MCCU (three-dayer from April 1) and Surrey (two-dayer from April 9).

Championship action starts against Warwickshire at Edgbaston on Friday, April 13.