England fast bowler Simon Jones made a tentative return to action at Hove today.

The 28-year-old bowled six overs on his comeback after 11 months out for his county side Glamorgan in Sussex's opening pre-season friendly.

Jones, one of the stars of England's Ashes triumph in 2005, had knee surgery last summer and hopes to be involved in this summer's Test series against West Indies and India.

He looked some way short of full pace today, bowling six wicketless overs at a cost of 27 runs down the slope at the County Ground.

But he should have had one wicket when Richard Grant dropped a straightforward chance at mid-wicket to reprieve Sussex opener Carl Hopkinson in his fifth over.

Jones' mood hardly improved when Grant allowed a push from Hopkinson to go between his legs to the boundary two balls later.

Both sides have named 12 players but only 11 are allowed to bat and field. Jason Lewry was missing for Sussex because of illness but Saqlain Muishtaq hopes to bowl a few overs later today.

Sussex reached 161-2 from 34 of their 50 overs after Chris Adams had won the toss in weather more like mid-June than early April.

Chris Nash (23) was caught at backward point off Huw Waters after putting on 46 with Carl Hopkinson, who was leg before to Robert Croft for 36 in the 22nd over when the score was 91.

But Mike Yardy and Chris Adams accelerated the run rate with Mike Yardy reaching 50 off 59 balls with five fours and Adams 39 not out.