Sussex new boy Mir Hamza knows how to make a good first impression.

The Pakistan seamer arrived in England yesterday and got straight down to work.

Now the county hope he hits the right note in early-season conditions when the serious action gets under way.

As revealed in The Argus yesterday, Sussex arranged an early arrival for Hamza, who was not due at Hove until mid-May, after injury frustrated their attempt to sign Kemar Roach for the start of the season.

Hamza put in a first appearance at the 1st Central County Ground yesterday while his new colleagues tackled a three-day first-class fixture against Cardiff MCCU.

He will play when the Specsavers County Championship opens against Leicestershire on Friday.

Sussex captain Ben Brown told The Argus: “We are really excited.

“He averages 18 with the ball in Pakistan.

“They have had some experience with the red Duke ball in recent times, which is good as well.

“He seems like a really nice guy.

“He just turned up and was straight in the gym so he is obviously a good professional.”

Hamza arrived in sunshine and pleasing temperatures although forecasts suggest conditions will be rather more traditional early-season fare by the the end of the week.

Brown does not expect that to worry him.

The skipper said: “He toured England last year with Pakistan A so hopefully he will be ready to go.

“He swings it both ways. A left-armer who swings it at good pace is obviously going to be a handful in early-season conditions.”

The 26-year-old had headed off for some rest by the time Chris Jordan got among the wickets on day two of what is proving to be quite a gentle test for Sussex.

Jordan took 5-53 from 14 overs and left the attack once he had completed his five-for with a searing yorker to bowl Matthew Foster coming down the slope from the Cromwell Road End.

Luke Wells’ two wickets were both clean bowled from consecutive balls – and he was very close to completing a hat-trick.

Ollie Robinson bowled 12 overs and finished with 0-36 as Sussex guide him through his return from close-season hip surgery.

Tom Haines, Abi Sakande and David Wiese took a wicket apiece while Daniel Douthwaite dominated the scoring with exactly 100 not out off 107 balls.

The students were all out for 203, a deficit of 277, before Phil Salt and Stiaan van Zyl used the final session to enjoy some time in the middle.

Salt raced to a half-century off 44 balls, including 11 fours.

By that time, Van Zyl had made 13 as he got back in the swing of things after a serious knee injury.

But, after Salt was caught at mid-on for 65 and Harry Finch soon followed for three, Van Zyl went smoothly through the gears in the company of his skipper.

The South African made a run-a-ball half century and was 92 not out at close of play as Sussex reached 220-2, a lead of 497.

Brown was on 51 out of a partnership worth 110 and enjoyed what he was seeing at the other end.

He said: “Stiaan is a class act. He looked classy from the get-go.”

Day three gets under way at 11am today.