Squad details for Sussex County Cricket Club playing at County Ground, Hove from The Argus

Mike Yardy

Appointed captain this season. Left-handed bat whose career has blossomed since he scored 1,520 first-class runs in 2005. Has played in six ODIs and captained England Lions.

Ragheb Aga

Kenyan-born seamer who played for his country in 2004 before settling in England. Joined the staff in 2008 and has the potential to become a first-choice in both formats if he can find the necessary consistency.

Will Beer

Promising 20-year-old leg-spinner from Crawley in his second season on the staff. Mostly bowls leg breaks, unlike Mushtaq Ahmed whose stock delivery was the googly, but is maturing nicely and has an excellent temperament. One to watch.

Ben Brown

Wicketkeeper-batsman in his second season on the staff. The 20-year-old is a developing talent and will push Andrew Hodd for the gloves this season when Matt Prior is on international duty, particularly in limited overs cricket.

Corey Collymore

Played 30 Tests and 84 ODIs for West Indies before retiring in 2007 so he could play county cricket. In his second season with Sussex, Collymore has never been express pace but he still offers good control and is happy to bowl long spells.

Joe Gatting

Switched from football to cricket in the winter and was handed a two-year contract after scoring a hundred in a pre-season game against Surrey. Powerful hitter who can also bowl medium-pace, the former Albion striker looks to have a big future in the game.

Murray Goodwin

Sussex’s best batsman. Now in his ninth season at Hove the former Zimbabwe Test player has been a model of consistency in both formats and a cornerstone of Sussex’s glory era. Holds the record for the biggest score by a Sussex player - 335* in the title-winning match against Leicestershire in 2003.

Rory Hamilton-Brown

Big season for the batting all-rounder, who joined Sussex from Surrey in 2008. A one-day regular last season he is anxious to play more Championship cricket. Powerful striker of the ball who bowls tidy off spin.

Andrew Hodd

Talented wicketkeeper-batsman who made his first-class debut in 2003 and had two unproductive seasons at Surrey before returning to Hove. Has done well when given opportunities and should get a long run now with Prior established in the England squad.

Carl Hopkinson

A key member of the one-day side since his debut in 2002, this resilient cricketer seemed to have made a breakthrough in the first-class game last season when he scored his maiden hundred. Faces extra competition for a middle order slot this season though. Appointed Sussex’s fielding coach during the winter.

Ed Joyce

High-profile recruit in the winter from Middlesex, where he was the mainstay of their top order for the best part of a decade. Anxious to regain his England one-day place two years after the last of his 17 appearances. Ahead of the Ashes, he is the last Englishman (although he was born in Dublin) to score a hundred against the Aussies.

James Kirtley

Effectively concentrating on one-dayers this season although don’t write him off in four-day cricket just yet. The second longest serving player on the staff, having made his debut in 1995, his career has been one of amazing highs (four Tests, 11 ODIs) and lows (reported for throwing) but he remains a fierce competitor.

Jason Lewry

Sussex’s longest-serving player having debuted in 1994. Concentrates on four-day cricket these days and remains one of the best swing bowlers in the country at 38. The county’s leading-wicket taker last season when he took his 600th first-class wicket.

Chris Liddle

Left-armer still to make an impact after two seasons on the staff.
Highlight so far was his match-winning 4-15 in the Twenty20 win over Hampshire last year. He needs to push on this season.

Robin Martin-Jenkins

Durable all-rounder in his 15th season at Hove. Still highly effective in both formats as a first-change bowler and can be relied on for elegantly-made lower order runs. Can consider himself unlucky not to have played for England and at 33 his chance has probably gone.

Chris Nash

Two Championship hundreds in the second half of last season secured his place as Mike Yardy’s regular opening partner. He will be looking to establish a more defined role in one-day cricket this season and bowl his under-rated off-breaks more frequently.

Matt Prior

Made his Sussex debut in 2001 and his meteoric rise saw him score a Test century on debut in 2007. He lost his England place later that year but regained it in 2008 after consistent performances with both gloves and bat for Sussex.

Ollie Rayner

Sussex’s most improved bowler in 2008, his third season on the staff, when he took 31 Championship wickets with his off breaks. Needs to kick on even more this season but has the potential to play for his country.
Hundred on first-class debut in 2006 seems a distant memory now and he needs to show more application with the bat.

Pepler Sandri

Wildcard recruit from South Africa who qualifies because of his Italian father. Bowls at waspish pace and if determination and self belief count for anything he could make a big impact this season. One of only 12 players in first-class cricket to have taken an all lbw hat-trick.

Dwayne Smith

West Indies all-rounder played a key role in Sussex’s Pro40 success in
2008 after joining the county as a Kolpak. Potential match-winner, he will be looking to establish himself as a Championship all-rounder this season as well.

Tom Smith

Left-arm spinner/batsman his third season on the staff, Smith has played sporadically in one-day cricket but was given his Championship debut this year. Consistent performer in the seconds, he is another player looking to make a big move forward in 2009.

Michael Thornely

Elegant top-order stroke-maker in his second season on the staff. Failed to convince in two appearances in 2008 but will be confident of making more of an impression if he gets opportunities this season.

Damien Wright

Aussie seamer playing for his third county as short-term replacement for Yasir Arafat. Helped Victoria win the Sheffield Shield last season and has been on the verge of international honours for several years.

Luke Wright

Explosive performer with bat and ball, he looks like playing a bigger part this season after his England career stalled in the winter. Is anxious to improve on modest county performances in 2008, particularly in one-day cricket where is a potential matchwinner.

Yasir Arafat

Back at Hove for a second stint as overseas players three years after helping Sussex do the double in 2006. Bowls well with the new ball, gets the old one to reverse-swing and is a powerful lower-order striker with four first-class hundreds to his name.