Phil Salt reached his first half-century of the season before rain arrived at Hove on the opening day of Sussex’s Championship game against Gloucestershire.

Salt went to his 50 by guiding Matt Taylor through the slips, having pulled his previous delivery over backward square-leg for six.

It came off 59 balls and also featured nine fours, but he did need to make repairs his helmet after ducking into a short ball from Australian quick Dan Worrall.

Luke Wells progressed more sedately but, fresh from a hundred against Leicestershire on Monday, the left-hander was unbeaten on 25 with Salt on 54 when an early lunch was taken with Sussex 86-0.

The Jason Gillespie era, in terms of home games, got under way under a grey sky with floodlights helping brighten things on a damp, chilly morning.

Gloucestershire opted not to contest the toss but Sussex's openers made light of what could have been testing conditions before rain forced a halt at 12.30pm.

A poor forecast meant just a few diehards were present to see the Hove campaign get under way, although the weather is expected to improve tomorrow.

Danny Briggs was named in the home XI ahead of seamer Stu Whittingham. Briggs replaces the injured Will Beer.