FAST BOWLER Billy Taylor is staying at home when Sussex head off to the Caribbean on their pre-season tour next week.

Taylor had ankle surgery last month and will continue his rehabilitation in England.

Coach Peter Moores said: "Billy's coming along nicely, but it's better he works here. It would have been frustrating for him to spend a couple of hours in the gym over there and then watch everyone else playing and practising. He's on course to be fully fit for the start of the season."

It means 18 players will be making the trip to Grenada where the county will be based for two weeks near the island capital St Georges.

As well as daily net practice and fitness sessions, they will be playing eight days of competitive cricket.

The first game is a 50 overs contest against the Windward Islands next Saturday.

They also face Northamptonshire in a one-day and three-day fixture while a combined Sussex and Northants team will play a West Indian Masters XI before Sussex play Grenada in a one-day match.

Three of Sussex's new signings are making the trip. Off spinner Mark Davis arrives from South Africa tomorrow and he will be joined by Academy youngsters Matthew Prior and Tim Ambrose.

Apart from Taylor only overseas player Murray Goodwin is missing. He will link-up with his new team-mates in mid-April.

Coach Peter Moores says all the players will 'get plenty of opportunities to impress' during Sussex's lengthy build-up to the first Championship match against Worcestershire on April 25.

He said: "The lads will be working extremely hard in Grenada. "Everyone will get an opportunity, obviously some more than others while the practice facilities over there are excellent."