Sussex are supporting a campaign for counties to be allowed another overseas player.

Chief executive David Gilbert believes more big names from abroad will be good for English cricket.

Somerset supremo Peter Anderson is spearheading a move for two overseas players per county.

Anderson fears standards in the county game will fall following the creation of central contracts for England players such as Somerset pair Andrew Caddick and Marcus Trescothick.

Aussie Gilbert said: "I agree with him. It's all about selling the product and 18 counties could definitely cope with two overseas players. That is not going to inhibit good youngsters coming through.

"Everyone is saying what have foreigners done for football, but football has never been so popular and if you look at English rugby it has never been stronger.

"When we had Michael Di Venutto making such a good impression with us before Michael Bevan came back I lost count of the number of members who said to me it would be great if we could have both of them.

"Good local players will still always come through. You are only talking about two places out of 11."

Bevan, who returns to Hove next season, could be replaced while he is on international duty or if he is out injured for at least six weeks before August 1 if a proposal discussed at the First Class Forum earlier this month is given the green light.

Bevan's overseas deputy Murray Goodwin will be looking for a big score in the current Championship clash against Warwickshire at Hove.

The visitors finished the first day on a healthy 281-3 with Mark Wagh unbeaten on 78 after winning the toss, but they would have been much worse off if Sussex had held onto their catches and enjoyed a bit more fortune.