Phil Salt hopes to come back a better, wiser and refreshed batsman when cricket finally resumes.

But the Sussex opener admits he is missing the buzz of the Hove changing room.

Salt is preparing to be a part of the 55-man training group selected by the ECB ahead of what could still be a busy few weeks of international cricket across the formats.

Not that it will feel like being part of a group to start with.

He will train with a coach at Hove initially before joining with others at the Ageas Bowl a few weeks from now.

Still, while not a welcome break in his globetrotting schedule, the lockdown has been a chance to take stock, recuperate and have a closer look at his game.

He told The Argus: “It has just been an opportunity to reset.

“I’ve not stopped playing for I think it was 24 months, around there.

“This has actually been my first break in a long time. You need that time to reflect.

“It is very valuable as a cricketer to look back on what you have done.

“What’s been successful, what’s not been?

“You get your body right and you can go again.

“I’ve been watching videos, there has been a lot of analysis.

“You get to a point where you are your own best coach.

“I’ve watched a lot of stuff, I’ve thought a lot about it.

“I’ve had a lot of conversations with people I trust.

“When I get back in the nets, I’ll know exactly what I’m doing and exactly how I can get better and make more progress.”

Not that the alterations will necessarily be easily discernible to those watching casually from the stands.

But they might just tip the balance further in the favour of a run-maker who is on the brink of international recognition and global acclaim on the T20 franchise circuit.

Salt thrills crowds with his attacking style - and it feels harsh sometimes when that approach then draws wise-after-the-event criticism if it leads to him getting out.

But he is well-placed to change all that with action out in the middle.

He said: “I’m not talking about wholesale changes. There are just one or two things.

“Areas where I can tighten up, maybe areas where I can minimise risk in my shots. Maybe even areas where I can open up my game.

“There is loads of stuff. When you start doing that analysis you can get a bit scrambled as to what you want to improve.

“But I’m only talking about three or four small things and polishing them in the hope it makes me that little bit better.”

Salt has not held a bat since competing the Pakistan Supper League.

His last innings saw him make 25 for Islamabad United before skying a catch to Chris Jordan, who was playing for Karachi Kings.

That defeat for Islamabad came on March 14, coincidentally the first Saturday of the Premier League football shutdown in this country.

Salt is currently working out twice a day in a bid to be ready for whenever the season starts.

He said: “It’s important to keep your fitness work up but, at the same time, it’s just to break up the day.

“The winter was great. I started in the T10 in Abu Dhabi with the Qalanders.

“I had two weeks in Barbados, which was really nice because I’ve got a good set-up there.

“I did a lot of training, got ready and mentally refreshed. It wasn’t a holiday by any means!

“That set me up for the winter and then I had the Big Bash and really enjoyed it. Then I was back here for just over a week and then straight back to Pakistan and I loved it.

“Now there is a lot of uncertainty. At the start I was following the news and one day you’re really hopeful, the next day it feels like we’re not going to play for years.

“Now I’m just here controlling what I can and doing my workouts, getting ready to start playing again.”

Ollie Robinson, Chris Jordan and Jofra Archer have already been out in the Hove middle, each bowling alone.

Salt is preparing for his own sessions.

He said: “There are all sorts of protocols. They send you your own thermometer, your own stumps, your own balls.

“The coach will be throwing at you with gloves on.

“It’s pretty strict and so it should be, I guess.”

For now, though, the day when all the Sussex boys get together at the ground feels a way off with action on hold until August 1 at the earliest.

“We are on a WhatsApp group and Zoom calls.

“We were doing that once a week at the start but it has petered out now.

“We have one every couple of weeks, normally led by Wellsy (Luke Wells).

“It’s good to see the boys and have a bit of banter but I think everyone is missing the changing room more than anything.”