Sussex skipper Ben Brown is not worried by their batting as they prepare to face Lancashire in the LV= County Championship at the 1st Central County Ground today.

They have had to cope without having Australian international Travis Head who is one of their overseas players.

Add to that they have been without opener Phil Salt who impressed with the bat last season.

In their absence Sussex have done well. Opener Tom Haines has hit the fifth most runs this season in the County Championship, scoring 397 runs at an average of 66.16.

Only Glamorgan’s Kiran Carlson (427), Derbyshire’s Matt Critchley (449), Yorkshire’s Adam Lyth (488) and David Bedingham (565) have hit more.

Haines’ opening partner Aaron Thomason has hit 224 runs at an average of 56.

While South African batsman, Stiaan Van Zyl has hit 169 runs at an average of 28.16.

But despite Sussex having only five recognised batsman in their first three County Championship matches this season, Brown insists he not concerned about their batting.

He said: “I’m not worried about the batting.

“I’m really pleased with how we have improved from last year.

“I think the top order have played really well so I’m really impressed.

“We are an overseas player down in Travis Head, who comes in soon.

“We have Phil Salt with a broken foot so to cope with those guys missing and to see the development of Aaron Thomason, Tom Haines - and Tom Clark are all chipping in now as well - I’ve been really pleased with how the batters have improved over the winter.”