Ben Brown is listening to voices in authority as he assesses Sussex’s new crop of talent.

And he loves what he hears.

The county skipper talks to umpires, many of whom are former players, about youngsters coming through the ranks.

Or sometimes he does not even need to ask, as was the case with opener Ali Orr last week.

The 20-year-old from Eastbourne is likely to feature again as Sussex go to Kent in the LV= Insurance County Championship.

He has two half-centuries from as many Championship outings so far and was disappointed not to turn the second into three figures as he made 80 against Glamorgan.

Ben Debenham and Russell Warren were the men in charge for that contest, which ended in a draw.

Brown said: “The umpires watch a lot of cricket, so I think it’s always worth checking in with them.

“They both came forward unprompted and just said how composed and calm Ali’s game looked, how well he was playing and he looked a top player.

“So it was really nice to hear that feedback from outside.

“I just think he has looked the part from the moment he walked in.

“Even the first innings at Headingley, the lights were on, it was dark but he played really well. It was a freak dismissal, down the legside, but he played really well there.

“He looked calm in the first innings, the ball was moving around in the lights and then he’s getting the scores when it’s in his favour.

“So a really bright future as well.”

These have been proud times for Eastbourne, the skipper’s own home town.

Oli Carter, who has broken into both Championship and T20 sides, is also from the town, as is Archie Lenham.

Brown said: “It has been really nice this week that Ali and myself had a big partnership, Carts and Ali as well.

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“I thought he (Carter) had a really composed debut.

“He didn’t get the score he wanted but, again, he came in, looked really calm, really composed.

“So these boys are a really good crop of young players and they are going places.”