Skipper Chris Adams admits he is struggling to be fit for Sussex's next Championship game against Middlesex on Wednesday.

Adams badly bruised his left thumb during the game against Kent, which ended in a draw.

He was able to field yesterday but not in his normal position at slip as Kent, chasing 457 to win, finished on 270-7.

The draw means Sussex are back on top of the first division, five points clear of Lancashire who have a game in hand.

He said: "If the match was today I would not play. The physio reckons once the bruising comes out I should be okay. I will have a net on Wednesday morning but I'm pessimistic at the moment."

The good news for Sussex is that leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed will return at Southgate after recovering from a sore neck. Adams defended his decision not to declare Sussex's second innings overnight against Kent.

He said: "The pitch was flat and they are capable of chasing big targets. It was important that psychologically they walked out to bat knowing they had no chance of winning.

"It's too early in the season to need to gamble like that. It was a bit like the old days before Mushy when life was tough for us but as a side we have grown knowing how close we came to winning without him.

"We've given it everything on a pitch which was flat and we're in good shape going into the next game."