Ben Brown cannot wait to play in front of a crowd again at Hove.

But the Sussex skipper knows it will be a new experience for some members of his young side.

An all-ticket attendance of up to 800 per day is permitted for the LV= Insurance County Championship match against Northants, which starts today (11am).

They will be the first spectators allowed into the ground since the end of the 2019 season.

Sussex played the Bob Willis Trophy and Vitality Blast behind closed doors last year and the ground has remained empty for three Championship fixtures so far this term.

Cricket behind closed doors ended for Sussex when hands were shaken at the end of their last Hove fixture, a rain-affected draw against Kent.

By then, plans were already being put into action to welcome back the public, albeit in a carefully controlled environment.

Brown told The Argus: “It’s fantastic, isn’t it?

“It’s obviously a small step in some respects but it will be so exciting.

“We were talking about it last week “Jack Carson has played in ten or 11 first-class games now and never had a crowd there.

“He hasn’t even had his family to watch him.

“It’s little things like that.

“You forget how nice it is to play for a bit more purpose, if you like.

“I’ve felt awfully sad for the Sussex members over the past year or so.

“It’s hard to understand how county members must see pubs and restaurants open and to not be able to come and watch in a stadium like this was hugely sad.”

Sussex supporters will get a first look at Travis Head playing for the county.

Live streaming of matches has allowed supporters to familiarise themselves with youngsters who have emerged since the start of the abbreviated 2020 season.

But, if selected, this will be a big occasion for players such as seam bowlers Henry Crocombe and Jamie Atkins, spinner Carson and Tom Clark, an upper-order batsman who can also bowl medium pace.

The injured Jofra Acher and Phil Salt will not be around.

Neither will Ollie Robinson, whose call to the England bubble leaves Sussex light on pace bowling.

It is a scenario which the county saw coming and they would love him to make his Test debut next week.

Brown said: “It’s hugely exciting.

“I can’t think of anybody who deserved it more.

“He has bowled tremendously for a long period of time now “From what I can see, he looks like a Test match bowler.

“He looks ready to play.

“Perhaps the irony of Jof not being fit is that it’s another opportunity for Ollie.

“But certainly if it was another Sussex player it would be pretty exciting.”