Sussex captain Chris Adams admitted his bowlers had been taught a harsh lesson after they were caned by the Surrey batsman on the opening day of the new season.

Ally Brown and Nadeem Shahid both made centuries while England discard Alec Stewart fell one short of his hundred as Surrey piled up 461-4 after day one at the Oval.

James Kirtley and debutant Paul Hutchison each took two wickets, but some wayward Sussex bowling was punished as Surrey's all-star batting line-up made the most of a perfect batting track.

Adams said: "We got a taste of reality today.

"We got a good start and had them 33-2 but we struggled to get the ball in the right areas consistently. It's probably fair to say all our bowlers tried too hard to make it perfect instead of concentrating on the basics."

Brown and Shahid put together an unbroken fourth wicket partnership of 232 in 64 overs and during the day Surrey scored 74 boundaries and two sixes.

Adams added: "Take nothing away from Surrey. They have a star-studded line-up which is full of quality and they played exceptionally well.

"There are going to be days like this for us in Division One and tomorrow will be a test of just how good we are at bouncing back.

"We have got to believe we are good enough to recover, both for the rest of this match and in the games ahead.

"It's going to be an uphill battle but I'm backing the guys to respond."

Richard Montgomerie finished the day with his hand in a bandage after he was hit on the left wrist trying to stop a drive from Shahid. But Montgomerie says he will be able to open the batting later today.

Before the start players from both teams stood on the outfield to remember Surrey's Ben Hollioake and Sussex all-rounder Umer Rashid who were both killed in the last month.

They were joined by members of Rashid's family and officials from the host club and the ECB including chief executive Tim Lamb and chairman of selectors David Graveney.