SUSSEX will stand by Chris Adams, irrespective of the outcome of tomorrow's disciplinary hearing at Lord's.

The skipper is assured of the unswerving support of the Hove hierarchy, even if he is found guilty of physically and verbally abusing Essex's former Sussex player Danny Law.

The committee are united in their backing and there is no question of stripping Adams of the captaincy or taking any other internal action. The club have demonstrated their loyalty by paying for Brighton-based sports lawyer David Laing to defend him against the allegations made by England captain Nasser Hussain.

It is a massive boost for Adams as he prepares to face the English Cricket Board's disciplinary committee, chaired by Gerard Elias QC.

Adams does not expect tomorrow's showdown with Hussain, arising from Sussex's Benson and Hedges Cup victory over Essex at Chelmsford last month, to have a bearing on his hopes of an international recall.

"All I can do is be in my best form so that if he calls me up I am ready to do a job for my country," said Adams.

"If he doesn't of course I will be disappointed, but I will know for a fact it is because six batsmen are performing better than me."

The Sussex skipper has slipped out of Test contention since his disappointing debut tour under Hussain in South Africa last winter.

He is determined to win his place back, just like king of the comebacks Graeme Hick.

"My desire to get back in and play for my country is as strong as ever," Adams said. "I am a very patriotic person. I love my country and I love the fact that we have just won two Tests in a row.

"I don't want sympathy for what happened in the winter. I expect to be treated the same as everybody else.

"Whilst I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of that tour, the fact remains I did not grab my opportunity. I nearly did on a couple of occasions, but not quite.

"That has happened to many players. Graeme Hick is on his tenth England call-up. Scoring a hundred at Lord's against Zimbabwe must have been a great feeling for him and one I can cling all my hopes to."

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