Sussex bowler Jack Carson is hoping to work his way up the batting order after an impressive display in their defeat to Northants in the County Championship at Hove last week.

The 20-year-old spinner hit 87 runs in his first game in front of a big crowd at the 1st Central County Ground, which included his first 50 in first-class cricket.

But the Irishman admitted he has had conversations with Sussex’s director of Cricket Keith Greenfield about moving up the order.

Speaking after the defeat to Northants, he said: “It was one thing I was speaking about to Keith this week and I have obviously known him since I was 12 and he spoke to me about my batting and keeping that expectation on it.

“Especially with my bowling have gone so well not to just become a bowler, he just said to keep that expectation and try to drive games forward even from number nine.

“We also spoke about future plans if I can bat at six or you bat at eight you can just balance the side much more and then play an extra batter or bowler.

“So, it was good that it has worked out for my recently and I have managed to get a few runs.”

Carson put on a 99-run partnership Henry Crocombe for the ninth wicket against Northants.

He said: “We have obviously played a lot of cricket together and it is probably our highest partnership together.

“But we have definitely played a lot and Henry (Crocombe) is a very clean ball striking and I know if they over-pitch a delivery he can hit the ball very hard and he showed that .

“But to be honest it was great fun with the crowd, we completely felt the support even if you knock it into the leg-side for two, but we really felt the supporters were behind us and that was great.”

When Carson came over to England from his hometown of Waringstown in Ireland as a 12-year-old he was a batsman and played at number four in the Sussex Academy, as he explains.

He said: “I came over as a batter who could bowl a bit of spin, so I have played through academy cricket batting at number four.

“Obviously my record in first-class cricket won’t show that but it is definitely something I can work towards and getting a bit of confidence to do so.”

As Carson mentioned his first-class record with the bat in his first 11 matches does not make for good reading.

In his 19 innings, he has scored 224 runs at an average of 12 with his highest scoring being the 52 he scored against Northants.

But Carson has been frustrated with his performances.

He said: “Yeah I have been (frustrated).

“That was the good thing with having the crowd in it was a chance for me to show them that I can bat because if you have only seen the scorecards, it will tell you a different story.

“So, it was great to show people in the flesh that I’m here to hang around and show them what I can bring to the team.”

Carson will be hoping to improve his record with the bat this morning as they face Yorkshire at Headingley in the County Championship (11am).

Sussex have made three changes to the side which were beaten by Northants with Mitch Claydon, Joe Sarro and 16-year-old Dan Ibrahim coming in for Tom Clark, George Garton and Delray Rawlins

Ibrahim is a right-handed batsman and seam bowler, who is a pupil at Bede’s School in Eastbourne.

He has been part of the youth set-up since Under-10’s and made his second team debut earlier this summer.

Yorkshire make two changes to their side with Gary Ballance and Dawid Malan replacing Will Fraine and George Hill.