Luke Wright has revealed he turned down a Twenty20 payday so he could up his game for Sussex.

The batsman wants to get back to his best in first-class cricket.

He rejected offers from the Pakistan Super League so he could work on his technique against the red ball.

Wright lived “like a married couple” with county captain Ben Brown in South Africa as they enjoyed an extended pre-season.

The fruits of their efforts were on display as the runs piled up at Hove yesterday.

Wright reached three figures off 110 balls as Sussex scored 375-7 to win their two-day friendly against Kent by 97 runs.

And Brown, whose extra work was against the white ball, danced down the pitch for a six as he reached an unbeaten 62.

Wright wants to improve on his batting efforts in the Championship last year.

He told The Argus: “I turned down PSL at the back end when I had the chance to go out and replace some players who were injured in that tournament.

“But I had already planned to go out to Cape Town early with Ben just to do red-ball work.

“Post-Christmas, when we started hitting again, I think I’ve hit probably one or two nets white-ball.

“I always feel like my white-ball game is there and ready to go.

“But there were a few changes I needed and a few little things that have sneaked into my game in red-bal.

“Those pitches last season probably exposed a few things.

“I’ve committed to giving it a winter of my red-ball. It is something I promised the club I would do and see where it took me.

“I am trying to get into the ball a bit more.

“I found myself being bowled quite a lot last year just standing off the ball.

“It was just a habit I got into and, with a lot of seam movement, it probably exposed it more than ever.

“With the white ball, sitting off the ball and just knocking it into the covers for one, probably just crept into my red-ball game.

“I’m 34. It’s almost my last chance to really have a push with my red-ball game.

“I know where I want to be in terms of the places I have been “I felt like that player again batting out there (yesterday) with how hard I was hitting the ball and the positions I was getting into.

“I’m just trying to get the best chance, like anyone.”

A lot of the pre-season work came at Gary Kirsten’s academy.

Wright said: “Me and Ben paid our own way to get out early, did an Airbnb together “We lived like a married couple for about two weeks!

“It was quite ironic. He was there working on his white-ball game and I was working on the red.

“It was complete roles reversed.

“Hopefully both of us will get the rewards this season.

“He has been phenomenal with the red ball.

“For me, watching him bat, he has been the stand-out wicketkeeper for a long time, not that he gets the recognition he deserves.

“He was helping me with my game and the same going his way.

“I just gave him a few tips on striking, etc.

“We saw it (yesterday). He ran down the wicket. He’s not usually one who strikes it over wide mid-on for six but he got a massive one.”

Brown retired after making 62 from 75 balls.

Michael Burgess (69) and Luke Wells (54) also compiled half centuries.

Sussex move into first-class cricket tomorrow (11am) when Cardiff MCCU visit for a three-day contest.

Head coach Jason Gillespie sees it as a step up after some impressive friendly performances.

Gillespie will rest Danny Briggs but said: “It will be pretty close to what our first team will look like in the Championship on Friday (against Leicestershire).

“There is real competition for places. Guys have put their hands up and put the hard work in.

“It is making my job pretty tough, to be honest, which is how you want it.”